Hani 


THE 


MEXICAN  WAR 


AND 


ITS    WARRIORS: 

CO3IPHISIXG 

A  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  ALL  THE  OPERATIONS  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  ARMIES    IN  MEXICO: 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  AND   ANECDOTES  OF  THE  MOST 

DISTINGUISHED  OFFICERS  IN  THE  REGULAR 

ARMY  AND  VOLUNTEER  FORCE  . 

BY  J.  FROST,  L.L.D. 

Author  of    "  The   Pictorial    History   of   the    World,"   "  American 
Naral  Biography,"  "  Pictorial  History  of  the  United  States," 
"  Wonders  of  History,"  and  late  Professor  of  Belles 
Lettres  in  the  Philadelphia  High  School. 


Ktlustratei  toft})  numerous 


NEW  HAVEN  AND  PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED   BY    H.   MANSFIELD 
1850. 


),  according  to  Act  of  Congress, 
BY  H.  MANSFIELD. 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of 
Connecticut. 


rwr* 


PREFACE. 

THE  recent  contest  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico  has  called  forth  the  military  energies 
of  this  country,  and  has  led  to  displays  of  valour 
and  military  science  which  have  astonished  the 
whole  civilized  world.  In  a  succession  of  bat 
tles,  sieges,  marches,  and  skirmishes,  lasting 
through  a  period  of  nineteen  months,  the  arms 
of  the  United  States  have  been  uniformly  tri 
umphant.  Wherever  our  armies  have  met  the 
enemy  they  have  conquered. 

Of  such  a  contest  the  history  cannot  but  prove 
interesting  to  the  whole  body  of  the  American 
people.  The  scattered  details  which  have  been 
furnished  by  the  public  journals,  although  they 
have  served  to  allay  anxiety  for  the  moment,  are 
quite  insufficient  to  satisfy  the  lively  curiosity 
which  such  events  are  well  calculated  to  awaken. 
"  A  round  unvarnished  tale"  of  the  whole  progress 
of  the  war  is  necessary  to  form  a  portion  of  the 
historical  library  of  every  family;  and  it  is  due  to 
the  heroic  officers  and  men  who  have  served  in 
this  war,  that  their  claims  to  the  gratitude  of  their 


6  PREFACE. 

country  should  be  distinctly  recorded  and  pie* 
served  in  a  permanent  form. 

It  is  with  these  views  that  the  following  his 
tory,  and  the  biographical  sketches  which  accom 
pany  it,  have  been  wntten.  The  author's  aim 
has  been  to  do  justice  to  all,  and  he  hopes  that 
this  intention  will  atone  for  any  imperfections  to 
which  this,  in  common  v.'ith  every  work  of  its 
class,  is  necessarily  liable. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz, 

Ornamental  Headpiece,  ....... 

Point  Isabel,       -  .......  28 

Fort  Brown,  ---.---.-        ^         33 
Battle  of  Palo  Alto,     -----...  4! 

American  army  entering  Maria,        ......         §9 

Bishop's  Palace,          --..»....  73 

Cavalry  Charge,      -.-......37 

Storming  of  the  Bishop's  Palace,  -         -  .  93 

Paredcs,          ----••....99 

Santa  Anna,       .........  joi 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista,     ........       107 

Death  of  Colonel  Clay,        .......  117 

Commencement  of  the  Guerilla  Warfare,  .....       135 

American  fleet  saluting  the  castle  at  Vera  Cria      ...  141 

Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,    -         .......147 

Jalapa,       ..........  152 

Northern  extremity  of  Puebla  de  los  Angelos,    -         -        •         -       163 
General  Butler,  ------.-.  166 

Battle  of  Churubusco,      -         -         -        -        -        -        -        -,175 

The  City  of  Mexico,    ........  183 

Chapultepec,  -         •         •        •        -        -        .         .        -191 

Capture  of  Tuspan,     ........  208 

Capture  of  Panuco,         -         -         -        •        .        -        -        -212 
Loss  of  the  S  omen,     ........  215 

General  Taylor,  ........       224 

Headpiece,         -          ........  225 

General  Worth,  -  ......  .       238 

Worth  at  Monterey,   ........  239 

Storming  of  Federation  Hill,    .......       242 

View  from  Tacubaya,-         .......  247 

Headpiece,    -          .........       255 

Headpiece,-         .........  259 

Tailpiece,       -         •        -         -        -        -        .         .         ...       264 

Headpiece,         .....         -.        ...  265 

P) 


viii  LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

T     .  .  «       ,•      271 

Headpiece,     -        - 

Street  fight  at  Monterey,      -        -        -        r 

General  Kearny,      -•--•• 

.         .  -  281 

Headpiece,         -        - 

__.        -     .  •  •  •  *  c6OO 

Headpiece,  -         - 

Colonel  McCulloch,    ..--•- 

293 
Headpiece,     -         -        -        - 

Captain  Walker, 

•  299 

Headpiece,     - 

Colonel  Hays, 

„,.  305 

Headpiece,     - 

•        •  311 

Headpiece,          ... 

General  Scott, ,"    . 

Headpiece,         ...•--•• 
General  Shields, 


THE  WAR. 


THOUGH  several  sub 
jects  of  dispute  existed 
between  this  country  and 
Mexico,  previous  to  the 
annexation  of  Texas,  yet 
the  latter  event  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  the 
war   between    the    two 
countries.     As   soon  as 
Mexico  understood  thai 
a   project  of  union  \va& 
entertained  between  the 
United  States  and  Texas, 
she  endeavoured  to  de- 
I  feat  it  ;    and   when    the 
jj  act  was    consummated, 
her    minister     protested 
against  it  as  "  an  act  of 


10  THE    WAR. 


Annexation  of  Texas. 


aggression  the  most  unjust  which  can  be  found  re 
corded  in  the  annals  of  modern  history ;  namely,  that 
of  despoiling  a  friendly  nation,  like  Mexico,  of  a  consi 
derable  portion  of  her  territory."  Immediately  after, 
the  minister  demanded  his  passports,  and  from  that  time 
all  efforts  at  amicable  negotiation  entirely  failed. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1845,  orders  were  issued  for 
General  Zachary  Taylor,  commandant  at  Fort  Jessup, 
Louisiana,  to  prepare  his  forces  for  marching  into  Texas, 
whenever  orders  to  that  purpose  should  be  issued.  The 
reasons  for  this  were  given  by  President  Polk  in  his  mes 
sage  of  December,  1845.  "  Both  the  congress  and  the 
convention  of  the  people  of  Texas,  invited  this  govern 
ment  to  send  an  army  into  their  territory  to  protect  and 
defend  them  against  a  menaced  attack.  The  moment 
the  terms  of  annexation  offered  by  the  United  States 
were  accepted  by  Texas,  the  latter  became  so  far  a  part 
of  our  country  as  to  make  it  our  duty  to  afford  such  pro 
tection  and  defence.  I  therefore  deemed  it  proper,  as  a 
precautionary  measure,  to  order  a  strong  squadron  to 
the  coasts  of  Mexico,  and  to  concentrate  an  efficient 
military  force  on  the  western  frontier  of  Texas." 

Agreeably  to  instructions  received  from  government, 
General  Taylor  concentrated  his  forces  at  Corpus  Christi, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Texas.  Here  he  remained  until 
March,  1846,  when  he  received  from  the  president 
orders  to  the  following  effect : 

"  Instructions  have  been  issued  to  the  general  in  com 
mand  to  occupy  the  left  bank  of  the  Del  Norte.  This 
river  which  is  the  south-west  boundary  of  the  state  of 
Texas,  is  an  exposed  frontier.  From  this  quarter  inva 
sion  was  threatened;  upon  it,  and  in  its  immediate 


THE     WAR.  11 

Taylor  leaves  Corpus  Christi. 

vicinity,  in  the  judgment  of  high  military  experience, 
are  the  proper  stations  for  the  protecting  forces  of  the 
government.  In  addition  to  this  important  considera 
tion,  several  others  have  occurred  to  induce  this  move 
ment.  Among  these  are  the  facilities  afforded  by  the 
ports  at  Brazos  Santiago,  and  the  mouth  of  the  Del 
Norte,  for  the  reception  of  supplies  by  sea ;  the  stronger 
and  more  healthful  military  positions ;  the  convenience 
for  obtaining  a  ready  and  a  more  abundant  supply  of 
provisions,  water,  fuel,  and  forage ;  and  the  advantages 
which  are  afforded  by  the  l)el  Norte,  in  forwarding  sup 
plies  to  such  ports  as  may  be  established  in  the  interior, 
and  upon  the  Indian  frontier."  General  Taylor  left 
Corpus  Christi  on  the  llth  of  March,  and  marched  to 
ward  the  Rio  Grande.*  The  troops  marched  through  a 
sandy  desert,  infested  by  venomous  reptiles,  until  they 

•  In  this  march,  says  a  late  writer,  the  army  encountered  the  most 
appalling  hardships,  both  from  the  heat  of  the  sandy  deserts  over  which 
they  passed,  and  the  want  of  food  and  water.  The  discipline  acquired 
in  camp,  where  large  portions  of  the  troops  had  for  the  first  time  an  op 
portunity  of  seeing  and  learning  the  evolutions  of  the  line,  was  here 
amply  tested ;  and  it  should  be  recorded  to  the  honour  of  the  soldiers, 
that  throughout  their  whole  march  they  bore  their  hardships  with  pa 
tience  and  cheerfulness. 

The  sufferings  on  this  march  were  rendered  the  more  painful  by  con 
trast  with  the  agreeable  sojourn  of  the  army  at  Corpus  Christi,  which  is 
described  by  Captain  Henry  in  his  entertaining  Campaign  Sketches,  as 
one  of  the  most  delightful  regions  in  the  world.  "  From  the  top  of  the 
bluff,"  he  says,  "  the  view  is  magnificent  in  the  extreme.  Far  off  to  the 
east  the  scene  was  bounded  by  the  white  caps  of  the  beautiful  bay ;  to  the 
south-east,  the  Flower  Bluffs  stood  out  in  bold  relief;  in  the  north-east, 
the  distant  highlands  of  Maylone's  Bluff  were  dimly  visible ;  to  the  north 
west,  the  land  near  the  mouth  of  the  Nueces ;  in  the  west,  one  unlimited 
plain  presented  itself,  extending  to  the  mountains,  the  home  of  the  mus 
tang  and  buflalo." 


THE     WAR. 

Crosses  the  Colorado. 


reached  the  Arroya  Colorado,  thirty  miles  eastward  of 
the  Rio  Grande.  On  the  opposite  bank  of  this  river  a 
body  of  soldiers  and  rancheros  was  stationed,  apparently 
for  the  purpose  of  disputing  the  passage.  This  place 
was  favourable  for  opposing  the  passage  of  the  army, 
and  General  Taylor  expected  that  war  was  now  about  to 
begin.  He  made  his  preparations  for  crossing,  however, 
but  soon  after  received  a  message  from  the  governor  of 
Matamoras,  stating  that  an  attempt  to  cross  the  Colorado 
woul  1  be  considered  a  signal  for  war. 

Notwithstanding  these  warlike  demonstrations,  Gene 
ral  Taylor  crossed  the  river  in  face  of  the  foe.  He 
experienced  no  opposition,  although  an  excellent  oppor 
tunity  was  afforded  from  the  position  in  which  the  .Mexi 
cans  were  stationed. 

Being  thus  unexpectedly  delivered  from  a  disagreeable 
collision,  General  Taylor  spent  a  day  in  refreshing  his 
troops,  and  then  [March  22d]  resumed  his  march  for 
the  Rio  Grande.  On  the  24th,  news  was  received  that 
the  Mexicans  had  taken  possession  of  Point  Isabel,  on 
the  Brazos  Santiago,  which  place  the  general  had  pre 
viously  selected  £s  a  military  depot.  Knowing  the  ad 
vantages  to  be  derived  from  this  station,  General  Taylor 
determined  to  occupy  it;  and  accordingly,  leaving  his 
main  army  with  General  Worth  on  the  Matamoras  road, 
he  pushed  toward  the  Brazos  with  the  dragoons  and 
artillery  train.  Wh  n  near  the  place,  he  was  met  by  the 
prefect  of  Tamaulip«,s,  and  other  citizens,  who  pro 
tested  against  the  occupation  of  their  territory,  and  inti 
mated  that  their  government  considered  it  a  declara 
tion  of  war.  While  General  Taylor  was  considering 
this  protestation,  he  observed  a  column  of  smoke  in  the 


THE     WAR.  13 

Excitement  in  Matamoras. 

direction  of  Point  Isabel,  and  conjecturing  that  the 
Mexicans  had  fired  it,  he  dismissed  the  prefect,  with 
the  promise  of  an  answer  when  the  Americans  would 
arrive  near  Matamoras.  Colonel  Twiggs  was  sent  for 
ward  with  the  dragoons  to  stop  the  conflagration,  and 
arrest  those  who  had  caused  it.  He  found  the  station 
deserted  by  the  soldiery  and  many  of  the  citizens,  and 
succeeded  in  saving  a  few  of  the  burning  houses.  Gene 
ral  Taylor  arrived  soon  after,  and  commenced  the  con 
struction  of  a  fortification  subsequently  known  as  Fort 
Polk.  Major  John  Munroe  was  intrusted  with  the  com 
mand.  Six  brass  six-pounders,  two  long  eighteens, 
large  quantities  of  powder  and  ball  with  about  four 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  were  left  for  its  defence. 

Having  completed  such  other  arrangements  as  were 
thought  necessary,  in  order  to  guard  against  attack,  Ge 
neral  Taylor  continued  his  march  with  the  main  army, 
and  reached  the  Rio  Grande  opposite  Matamoras  on  the 
28th. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  the  American  army  the 
city  of  Matamoras  was  thrown  into  the  greatest  excite 
ment.  Exaggerated  reports  both  of  its  strength  and 
intentions  had  preceded  its  coming;  and  our  troops 
were  regarded  as  lawless  banditti,  whose  sole  intention 
was  spoil  and  plunder.  In  a  few  days,  however,  this 
feeling  seems  to  have  subsided  ;  the  good  behaviour  of 
the  American  troops  dissipated  previous  fears  ;  and  the 
citizens  at  least  became  willing  to  wait  for  the  result 
of  the  natural  course  of  events,  rather  than  immediately 
rush  upon  the  American  army,  as  was  at  first  their 
intention. 

The  Americans  were  now  situated  in  a  beautiful  coun- 


14  THE     WAR. 

r-r_=:-j:-  :;- 

try — the  more  grateful  after  their  fatiguing  march.  "Fax 
as  the  eye  can  reach,1'  says  a  volunteer,  "  one  level  sur 
face  presents  itself  to  view,  dotted  with  cotton  and  sugar 
cane  fields,  interspersed  with  lovely  gardens  after  the 
Spanish  fashion,  the  whole  cut  up  and  divided  in  all 
sorts  of  ways,  hy  groves  of  the  finest  trees,  among  which 
the  lignum  vitar  figures  largely ;  and  the  entire  picture 
is  cut  in  twain  by  the  muddiest,  crookedest,  and  swiftest 
river  in  North  America.  Neither  mountain,  hill,  nor 
elevation  of  any  sort,  varies  the  everlasting  level  of  the 
country  around.  The  scene  is  rich  and  peaceful,  with 
nought  to  mar  its  appropriate  character  save  the  armies 
of  the  two  nations.  Our  nights  here,  for  the  most  part, 
are  remarkable  for  their  serenity.  The  stars  stand  forth 
in  numerous  crowds,  with  rare  brilliancy ;  not  a  leaf  is 
moved,  not  a  cloud  is  seen ;  while  ever  and  anon  a  me 
teor  of  surpassing  brightness  shoots  across  the  azure 
vault" 

When  the  army  reached  the  Rio  Grande,  and  had 
planted  the  American  flag  upon  its  banks,  General 
Worth  crossed  to  the  Mexican  side,  in  order  to  have  an 
interview  with  the  city  authorities,  and  deliver  to  them 
despatches  from  General  Taylor.  He  was  met  by  Gene 
ral  la  Vega,  the  Licenciado  Casares,  Juan  Garza,  an 
interpreter,  and  two  officers,  who  had  been  appointed 
by  the  authorities  to  confer  with  him.  After  consider 
able  altercation,  the  reception  of  the  despatches  was 
refused,  and  a  like  result  attended  a  request  for  an  in 
terview  with  the  American  consul.  Worth  then  returned 
to  the  camp. 

After  this  event,  the  Mexicans,  withheld  all  supplies 
from  General  Taylor,  and  commenced  the  erection  of 


T  H  E     W  A  ft.  15 

Mexican  Proclamation  Inviting  Deserters. 

batteries  and  fortifications  opposite  his  position.  He 
had  previously  begun  the  construction  of  a  fort,  intended 
to  defend  his  camp  and  afford  a  depot  for  such  stores  as 
would  be  drawn  from  time  to  time  from  Point  Isabel. 
A  gloom  now  settled  over  both  armies,  and  speculations 
upon  a  dark  and  uncertain  future  filled  the  mind  of  both 
friend  and  foe. 

The  following  proclamation  of  "  The  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Mexican  army,  to  the  English  and  Irish 
under  the  orders  of  the  American  General  Taylor,"  was 
distributed  in  the  American  camp,  in  the  early  part  of 
April.  It  was  the  first  display  of  that  unmanly  craft, 
for  which  the  Mexicans  seem  to  be  characteristically 
adapted : 

"  Know  ye : — That  the  government  of  the  United 
States  is  committing  repeated  acts  of  barbarous  aggres 
sion  against  the  magnanimous  Mexican  nation ;  that  the 
government  which  exists  under  the  flag  of  the  stars,  is 
unworthy  of  the  designation  of  Christian.  Recollect 
that  you  were  born  in  Great  Britain ;  that  the  American 
government  looks  with  coldness  upon  the  powerful  flag 
of  St.  George,  and  is  provoking  to  a  rupture  the  war 
like  people  to  whom  it  belongs.  President  Polk  boldly 
manifesting  a  desire  to  take  possession  of  Oregon,  as  he 
already  has  done  of  Texas.  Now,  then,  come  with  all 
confidence  to  the  Mexican  ranks ;  and  I  guarantee  to 
you  upon  my  honour,  good  treatment,  and  that  all  your 
expenses  shall  be  defrayed  until  your  arrival  in  the 
beautiful  capital  of  Mexico. 

"Germans,  French,  Poles,  and  individuals  of  all  na- 
tians!  Separate  yourselves  from  the  Yankees,  and  do 
not  contribute  to  defend  a  robbery  and  usurpation,  which, 


16  THE    WAR. 

State  of  Taylor's  Forces. 

be  assured,  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe  look  upon 
with  the  utmost  indignation.  Come,  therefore,  and  ar 
ray  yourselves  under  the  tricoloured  flag,  in  the  confi 
dence  that  the  God  of  armies  protects,  and  that  it  will 
protect  you  equally  with  the  English." 

This  inglorious  appeal  was  not  unattended  with  suc 
cess.  Several  desertions  took  place,  until  it  became 
necessary  to  issue  orders  to  shoot  every  soldier,  who 
should  attempt  this  crime.  Two  or  three  being  thus 
dealt  with,  the  evil  was  stopped. 

The  situation  of  the  two  armies  became  every  day  more 
critical.  By  order  of  General  Taylor,  strong  guards  of 
foot  and  mounted  men  were  established  on  the  margin 
of  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  all  inter 
course.  The  Mexican  pickets  extended  above  and 
below  his  camp  for  several  miles,  but  were  watched  by 
strong  and  vigilant  guard,  so  as  to  prevent  the  possibility 
of  surprise  under  disadvantageous  circumstances.  A 
field-work  was  also  erected,  together  with  a  strong  bat 
tery,  a  number  of  buildings  for  the  security  of  supplies, 
and  several  respectable  works  for  their  protection. 
Fronting  each  other,  for  an  extent  of  more  than  two 
miles,  were  batteries  shotted,  within  range  of  each  other, 
and  watched  by  officers  and  men  who  were  impatiently 
waiting  for  orders  to  apply  their  matches. 

But  both  armies  still  seemed  unwilling  to  interrupt 
the  peace  which  had  ever  existed  between  the  two  re 
publics.  Neither  army  was  very  well  prepared  for 
active  hostilities.  Taylor's  entire  force  was  small,  sepa 
rated  into  two  portions,  and  ill  provided  with  artillery 
and  ammunition;  the  Mexicans  were  waiting  for  rein- 


T  H  E    W  A  R.  17 

Murder  of  Colonel  Cross. 

forcements,  both  of  men  and  supplies,  and  were  uncer 
tain  as  to  a  proper  point  of  attack. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  an  event  occurred,  which,  on 
account  of  its  being  the  first  of  the  kind,  created  great 
sensation  in  the  American  camp.  This  was  the  death 
of  Colonel  Truman  Cross.  Early  in  the  morning  he 
had  ridden  into  the  country,  to  his  usual  exercise,  but 
did  not  return  at  his  customary  time.  As  the  country 
was  known  to  be  infested  with  plunderers  and  ranche- 
ros,  his  non-appearance  caused  mucn  uneasiness  in 
camp,  and  several  parties  were  despatched  in  quest  of 
him.  General  Taylor  then  wrote  to  the  commandant  of 
Matamoras  upon  the  subject,  but  that  officer  disclaimed 
all  knowledge  of  his  fate,  and  the  army  was  left  to  the 
most  painful  conjectures.  This  continued  until  the  21st, 
when  a  Mexican  strolled  into  camp,  and  stated  that  the 
body  of  an  American  soldier  was  lying  in  the  chaparral 
at  some  distance.  A  party  was  immediately  sent  with 
him,  and,  among  some  thick  bushes,  they  found  a  body, 
which,  by  fragments  of  the  dress  and  several  other 
marks,  was  recognized  as  the  remains  of  Colonel  Cross. 
The  spot  was  a  short  distance  from  a  road  leading  to  the 
river.  He  had  been  deprived  of  his  watch,  pistols,  and 
clothing,  and  the  flesh  was  picked  off  his  body  by  the 
vultures.  The  account  given  of  his  death  by  a  Mexi- 
cai  appears  worthy  of  credit.  He  stated  that  he  was 
taken  by  a  band  of  lawless  Mexican  soldiers,  commanded 
'jy  Romano  Falcon,  who  murdered  h:m  with  his  own 
hands,  after  he  had  been  robbed,  although  his  band  were 
in  favour  of  taking  him  a  prisoner  to  Matamoras.  Ge 
neral  Taylor  caused  the  body  to  be  interred  with  full 
military  honours. 


18  THE     WAR. 

Correspondence  between  Taylor  and  Ampudia. 

On  the  llth,  the  arrival  of  General  Ampudia  in  Mata- 
moras,  caused  many  demonstrations  of  joy  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens  and  soldiers  in  that  city,  and  the 
Americans  expected  an  early  attack.  On  the  following 
day,  however,  General  Ampudia  sent  a  messenger  to 
General  Taylor  with  a  despatch,  requiring  him,  "in  all 
form  and  at  the  latest  in  the  peremptory  term  of  twenty- 
four  hours,  to  break  up  his  camp  and  retire  beyond  the 
Neuces,"  assuring  him,  that  in  the  event  of  a  refusal, 
arms,  and  arms  alone,  must  decide  the  question,"  and 
advising  him  that,  in  that  case,  the  Mexicans  accepted 
the  war  to  which  he  provoked  them. 

General  Taylor  in  reply  to  this  letter,  informed  him 
that  he  had  been  ordered  by  his  government  to  take  a 
position  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Bio  Grande,  which  he 
had  done,  and  from  which  he  could  not  recede,  except 
under  directions  from  the  same  quarter  with  those  which 
brought  him  there.  He  further  stated  that  the  move 
ment  in  question  was  expected  by  his  government  to  be 
a  pep  ^eful  one,  and  that  he  (Ampudia)  was  fully  at  li 
berty  to  make  it  otherwise,  at  any  moment  he  might  see 
fit  to  do  so ;  in  which  case  he  would  be  responsible  for 
all  the  consequences  resulting  from  the  same.  The 
allotted  time  expired  without  being  followed  by  any  oc 
currence  of  interest,  notwithstanding  the  definite  form 
of  General  Ampudia's  notice. 

On  the  17th,  Lieutenant  T.  H.  Porter,  and  Lieutenant 
Dobbins,  started  from  camp  for  the  purpose  of  discover 
ing  if  possible,  the  murderers  of  Colonel  Cross,  a  step 
induced  by  the  rumour  that  Romano  Falcon  was  prowl 
ing  in  the  vicinity  with  his  command.  Each  com 
manded  a  detachment  of  two  non-commissioned  officers 


THE    WAR.  19 

Death  of  Lieutenant  Porter. 

and  ten  privates.  They  took  opposite  directions.  During 
the  night  it  rained  hard.  On  the  second  day,  Lieute 
nant  Porter  met  a  party  of  Mexicans,  one  of  whom 
snapped  his  piece  at  him.  Lieutenant  Porter  an 
swered  by  firing  a  double  barrel.  The  Mexican  took  to 
flight,  whilst  Lieutenant  Porter  took  possession  of  the 
camp  of  the  marauders,  containing  ten  horses,  blankets, 
&c.  He  then  immediately  mounted  his  men,  and 
started  for  head-quarters.  It  shortly  after  commenced 
raining  with  the  violence  known  only  in  tropical  climates. 
While  passing  through  a  clump  of  chaparral,  Lieutenant 
Porter  was  fired  upon.  He  instantly  ordered  his  men 
to  dismount,  but  their  arms  were  useless  from  the  rain, 
while  the  enemy  continued  to  pour  in  a  galling  fire. 
One  of  Lieutenant  Porter's  men  was  shot  down,  and  he 
himself  received  a  ball  in  the  thigh  and  fell,  exclaiming, 
"  Fight  on,  boys !  Take  care  of  yourselves."  The  men 
then  separated  into  three  parties  as  they  retreated  into  the 
chaparral,  but  they  all  finally  reached  the  camp.  As 
fliey  retired,  the  Mexicans,  yelling  like  Indians,  rushed 
upon  Lieutenant  Porter  and  the  wounded  soldier,  and 
plunged  their  knives  into  frieir  breasts.  The  gallant 
young  officer  whose  life  was  thus  early  lost  to  his  coun 
try,  was  a  son  of  Commodore  David  Porter.  It  has 
been  said  of  some  families  that  chivalry  runs  in  the 
blood,  and  of  none  can  it  be  more  true  than  of  the  Por 
ters.  The  brother  of  Lieutenant  Porter,  who  held  a 
similar  rank  in  the  navy,  is  reported  to  have  said,  when 
he  heard  of  his  brother's  death,  that  his  father  had  given 
him  a  sword  as  his  only  bequest,  and  with  that  sword 
he  would  avenge  his  brother's  fall  or  share  his  fate. 
His  American  mother  had  written  to  him,  "  come  not  to 


' 


20  TilE    WAR. 

Blockade  of  the  Bio  Grande. 

me — but  go  the  other  way,  to  avenge  your  brother  and 
defend  your  country.1' 

On  the  19th  of  April,  General  Taylor  learned  that  two 
vessels  from  New  Orleans,  laden  with  supplies  for  the 
Mexicans  in  Matamoras,  were  off  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  he  ordered  the  United  States  brig  Lawrence, 
with  the  revenue  cutter  St.  Anna,  to  cut  off  the  commu 
nication  by  water  with  that  place.  A  letter  from  Am- 
pudia  followed  the  establishment  of  this  blockade,  in 
which  that  step  is  complained  of,  and  a  demand  made 
for  the  release  of  two  Mexicans,  falsely  alleged  to  be 
held  as  prisoners  by  the  American  general.  The  letter 
of  General  Taylor  in  reply  is  of  great  interest,  and  is 
worthy  of  preservation  as  an  evidence  of  the  dignified 
yet  firm  bearing  of  that  officer  at  this  critical  period. 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMV  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Camp  near  Matamoras,  Texas,  April  22,  1846.  ) 

"  Sm : — I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  commu 
nication  of  this  date,  in  which  you  complain  of  certain 
measures  adopted  by  my  orders  to  close  the  mouth  of 
the  Rio  Bravo  against  vessels  bound  to  Matamoras,  and 
in  which  you  also  advert  to  the  case  of  two  Mexicans 
supposed  to  be  detained  as  prisoners  in  this  camp. 

"After  all  that  has  passed  since  the  American  army 
first  approached  the  Rio  Bravo,  I  am  certainly  surprised 
that  you  should  complain  of  a  measure  which  is  no  other 
than  a  natural  result  of  the  state  of  war  so  much  insisted 
upon  by  the  Mexican  authorities  as  actually  existing  at 
this  time.  You  will  excuse  me  for  recalling  a  few  cir 
cumstances  to  show  that  this  state  of  war  has  not  been 
sought  by  the  American  army,  but  has  been  forced  upon 


THE     W  A  R.  21 

[Taylor's  Letter  to  Ampudia. 


it,  and  that  the  exercise  of  the  rights  incident  to  such  a 
stale  cannot  be  made  a  subject  of  complaint. 

"  On  breaking  up  my  camp  at  Corpus  Chrisrti,  and 
moving  forward  with  the  army  under  my  orders  to  oc 
cupy  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  it  was  my  earnest 
desire  to  execute  my  instructions  in  a  pacific  manner ; 
to  observe  the  utmost  regard  for  the  personal  rights  of 
all  citizens  residing  on  the,  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  to 
take  care  that  the  religion  and  customs  of  the  people 
should  suffer  no  violation.  With  this  view,  and  to  quiet 
the  minds  of  the  inhabitants,  I  issued  orders  to  the 
army,  enjoining  a  strict  observance  of  the  rights  and 
interests  of  all  Mexicans  residing  on  the  river,  and 
caused  said  orders  to  be  translated  into  Spanish,  and 
circulated  in  the  several  towns  on  the  Bravo.  These 
orders  announced  the  spirit  in  which  we  proposed  to 
occupy  the  country,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  up  to 
this  moment  the  same  spirit  has  controlled  the  opera 
tions  of  the  army.  On  reaching  the  Arroyo  Colorado  I 
was  informed  by  a  Mexican  officer  that  the  order  in 
question  had  been  received  in  Matamoras  ;  but  was  told 
at  the  same  time  that  if  I  attempted  to  cross  the  river  it 
would  be  regarded  as  a  declaration  of  war.  Again,  on 
my  march  to  Frontone  I  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  the 
civil  authorities  of  Matamoras,  protesting  against  my 
occupation  of  a  portion  of  the  department  of  Tamauli- 
pas,  and  declaring  that  if  the  army  was  not  at  once 
withdrawn,  war  would  result.  While  this  communica 
tion  was  in  my  hands,  it  was  discovered  that  the  village 
of  Frontone  had  been  set  on  fire  and  abandoned.  I 
viewed  this  as  a  direct  act  of  war,  and  informed  the 
deputation  that  their  communication  would  be  answered 


22  THE     WAR. 

Taylor's  Letter  to  Arapudia. 

by  me  when  opposite  Matamoras,  which  was  done  in 
respectful  terms.  On  reaching  the  river  I  despatched 
an  officer,  high  in  rank,  to  convey  to  the  commanding 
general  in  Matamoras  the  expression  of  my  desire  for 
amicable  relations,  and  my  willingness  to  leave  open  to 
the  use  of  the  citizens  of  Matamoras  the  port  of  Brazos 
Santiago  until  the  question  of  boundary  should  be  defi 
nitively  settled.  This  officer  received  for  reply,  from 
the  officer  selected  to  confer  with  him,  that  my  advance 
to  the  Rio  Bravo  was  considered  as  a  veritable  act  of 
war,  and  he  was  absolutely  refused  an  interview  with 
the  American  consul,  in  itself  an  act  incompatible  with 
a  state  of  peace. 

"  Notwithstanding  these  repeated  assura  ices  on  the 
part  of  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  notwith  jtanding  the 
most  obviously  hostile  preparations  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river,  accompanied  by  a  rigid  non-intercourse,  I 
carefully  abstained  from  any  act  of  hostility — determined 
that  the  onus  of  producing  an  actual  state  of  hostilities 
should  not  rest  with  me.  Our  relations  remained  in  this 
state  until  I  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  note  of  the 
12th  instant,  in  which  you  denounce  war  as  the  alterna 
tive  of  my  remaining  in  this  position.  As  I  could  not, 
under  my  instructions,  recede  from  my  position,  I  ac 
cepted  the  alternative  you  offered  me,  and  made  all  my 
dispositions  to  meet  it  suitably.  But,  still  willing  to 
adopt  milder  measures  before  proceeding  to  others,  I 
contented  myself  in  the  first  instance  with  ordering  a 
blockade  of  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Bravo  by  the  naval 
forces  under  my  orders — a  proceeding  perfectly  conso 
nant  with  the  state  of  war  so  often  declared  to  exist, 
and  which  you  acknowledge  in  your  note  of  the  16th 


THE     WAR.  23 

Taylor's  Letter  to  Ampudia. 

instant,  relative  to  the  late  Colonel  Cross.  If  this  mea 
sure  seems  oppressive,  I  wish  it  borne  in  mind  that  it 
has  been  forced  upon  me  by  the  course  you  have  seen 
fit  to  adopt.  I  have  reported  this  blockade  to  my  go 
vernment,  and  shall  not  remove  it  until  I  receive  instruc 
tions  to  that  effect,  unless  indeed  you  desire  an  armistice 
pending  the  final  settlement  of  the  question  between  the 
governments,  or  until  war  shall  be  formally  declared  by 
either,  in  which  case  I  shall  cheerfully  open  the  river, 
In  regard  to  the  consequences  you  mention  as  resulting 
from  a  refusal  to  remove  the  blockade,  I  beg  you  to 
understand  that  I  am  prepared  for  them,  be  they  what 
they  may. 

"In  regard  to  the  particular  vesselr  referred  to  in  your 
communication,  I  have  the  honour  to  advise  you  that, 
in  pursuance  of  my  orders,  two  American  schooners, 
bound  for  Matamoras,  were  warned  off  on  the  17th  in 
stant,  when  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  put  to  sea, 
returning  probably  to  New  Orleans.  They  were  not 
seized,  or  their  cargoes  disturbed  in  any  way,  nor  have 
they  been  in  the  harbour  of  Brazos  Santiago  to  my  know 
ledge.  A  Mexican  schooner,  understood  to  be  the  '  Ju- 
niata,'  was  in  or  off  that  harbour  when  my  instructions 
to  block  the  river  wrere  issued,  but  was  driven  to  sea  in 
a  gale,  since  which  time  I  have  had  no  report  concern 
ing  her.  Since  the  receipt  of  your  communication,  I 
have  learned  that  two  persons,  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the 
river  to  procure  information  respecting  this  vessel,  pro 
ceeded  thence  to  Brazos  ^Santiago,  when  they  were 
taken  up  and  detained  by  the  officer  in  command,  until 
my  orders  could  be  received.  I  shall  order  their  imme 
diate  release.  A  letter  from  one  of  them  to  the  Spanish 
rice-consul  is  respectfully  transmitted  herewith. 


24  THE    WAR 

Taylor's  Letter  to  Ampudia. 

"In  relation  to  the  Mexicans  said  to  have  drifted 
down  the  river  in  a  boat,  and  to  be  prisoners  at  this  time 
in  my  camp,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  no 
&uch  persons  have  been  taken  prisoners  or  are  now  de 
tained  by  my  authority.  The  boat  in  question  was  car 
ried  down  empty  by  the  current  of  the  river,  and  drifted 
ashore  near  one  of  our  pickets  and  was  secured  by  the 
guard.  Some  time  afterwards  an  attempt  was  made  to 
recover  the  boat  under  the  cover  of  darkness  ;  the  indi 
viduals  concerned  were  hailed  by  the  guard,  and,  failing 
to  answer,  were  fired  upon  as  a  matter  of  course.  What 
became  of  them  is  not  known,  as  no  trace  of  them  could 
be  discovered  on  the  following  morning.  The  officer  of 
the  Mexican  guard  directly  opposite  was  informed  next 
day  that  the  boat  would  be  returned  on  proper  applica 
tion  to  me,  and  I  have  now  only  to  repeat  that  assur 
ance. 

"In  conclusion,  I  take  leave  to  state  that  I  consider  the 
tone  of  your  communication  highly  exceptionable,  where 
you  stigmatize  the  movement  of  the  army  under  my 
orders  as  '  marked  with  the  seal  of  universal  reproba 
tion.'  You  must  be  aware  that  such  language  is  not 
respectful  in  itself,  either  to  me  or  my  government ;  and 
while  I  observe  in  my  own  correspondence  the  courtesy 
due  to  your  high  position,  and  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
mterests  with  which  we  are  respectively  charged,  I  shall 
expect  the  same  in  return. 

"I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe 
dient  servant, 

"  Z.  TAYLOR, 

"Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  *#.,  Commanding, 
**Sr.  Gen.  D.  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA,  Commanding  in  Matamoras." 


THE     WAR.  525 

Taylor's  account  of  his  preparations  for  defense. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  an  artfully-worded  address  was 
issued  by  General  Arista,  offering  lands  to  all  who  should 
desert  from  the  American  army  and  become  citizens  of 
Mexico,  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  being  fixed  as 
the  price  of  a  private,  and  others  in  proportion.  Any 
services  to  Mexico  were  to  be  properly  rewarded.  The 
state  of  things  at  this  time  is  well  described  by  General 
Taylor  in  a  letter  written  on  the  25th  of  April.  He 
says,  "  strong  guards  of  foot  and  mounted  men  are 
established  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  and  thus  efficient 
means  have  been  adopted  on  our  part  to  prevent  all 
intercourse.  While  opposite  to  us,  their  pickets  extend 
above  and  below  for  several  miles,  we  are  equally  active 
in  keeping  up  a  strong  and  vigilant  guard  to  prevent 
surprise  or  attacks,  under  disadvantageous  circumstances. 
This  is  the  more  necessary  while  we  are  to  act  on  the 
defensive,  and  they  are  at  liberty  to  take  the  opposite 
course  whenever  they  think  proper  to  do  so.  Nor  have 
we  been  idle  in  other  respects ;  we  have  a  field-work 
under  way,  besides  having  erected  a  strong  battery,  and 
a  number  of  buildings  for  the  security  of  our  supplies, 
in  addition  to  some  respectable  works  for  their  protec 
tion.  We  have  mounted  a  respectable  battery,  four 
pieces  of  which  are  long  eighteen-pounders,  with  which 
we  could  batter  or  bum  down  the  city  of  Matamoras, 
should  it  become  necessary  to  do  so.  When  our  field- 
work  is  completed — which  will  soon  be  the  case — and 
mounted  with  its  proper  armament,  five  hundred  men 
could  hold  it  against  as  many  thousand  Mexicans.  Dur 
ing  the  twenty-seven  days  since  our  arrival  here,  a  most 
singular  state  of  things  has  prevailed  all  through  the  out 
lines  of  the  two  armies,  which,  to  a  certain  extent,  have 

2 


26  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

Capture  of  Captain  Thornton. 

all  the  feelings  as  if  there  were  actual  war.  Fronting 
each  other  for  an  extent  of  more  than  two  miles,  and 
within  musket  range,  are  batteries  shotted,  and  the 
officers  and  men,  in  many  instances,  waiting  impatiently 
for  orders  to  apply  the  matches,  yet  nothing  has  been 
done  to  provoke  the  firing  of  a  gun  or  any  act  of  vio 
lence."  In  the  postscript  to  this  letter,  General  Taylor 
adds,  "  since  writing  the  above,  an  engagement  has 
taken  place  between  a  detachment  of  our  cavalry  and 
the  Mexicans,  in  which  we  are  worsted.  So  the  war 
has  actually  commenced  and  the  hardest  must  fend  off." 
This  significant  language  has  reference  to  the  defeat 
of  Captain  Thornton.  General  Taylor's  scouts  had 
brought  in  intelligence  on  the  23d,  that  twenty-five  hun 
dred  Mexicans  had  crossed  the  river  to  the  Texas  side, 
above  the  American  fort,  and  fifteen  hundred  below.  A 
squadron  of  dragoons  was  despatched  to  each  place  of 
crossing  to  reconnoiter  them  and  learn  their  position. 
The  squadron  ordered  below  was  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Ker;  that  above,  commanded  by  Captain  Thorn 
ton,  consisted  of  Captain  Hardee,  Lieutenants  Kane  and 
Masson,  and  sixty-one  privates  and  non-commissioned 
officers.  Captain  Ker  found  that  the  report  of  the  cross 
ing  below  was  false.  Captain  Thornton,  however,  pro 
ceeded  up  the  country  some  twenty-six  miles,  where  he 
fell  into  an  ambuscade,  and  found  himself  surrounded 
by  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  of  the  enemy  con 
cealed  in  the  chaparral.  The  command  behaved  with 
great  gallantry,  but  the  number  of  the  enemy  was  so 
overwhelming  that  they  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war. 
Lieutenant  George  Mason,  who  was  killed  in  the  rencoun 
ter,  is  said  to  have  maimed  Romano  Falcon  for  life,  in 


T  H  E    W  A  R.  29 

Captain  Walker's  defeat. 

a  close  personal  contest.  He  was  a  gallant  young  officer- 
and  his  death  is  much  regretted.  Though  the  force 
which  obtained  this  success  was  about  fifteen  to  one,  it 
filled  the  Mexican  army  with  ecstacy,  and  General  Arista 
addressed  to  General  Torrejon  an  eloquent  letter  of  con 
gratulation  on  his  great  and  glorious  victory.  The  re 
serve  they  had  hitherto  manifested  was  now  cast  wholy 
aside.  They  came  across  the  river  in  great  numbers; 
all  intercourse  between  General  Taylor's  camp  and  Point 
Isabel  was  cut  off,  and  there  was  imminent  danger  of 
the  fall  of  that  place  with  all  the  military  stores  it  con 
tained.  Nothing  of  interest  had  occurred  at  Point  Isa 
bel  up  to  this  time.  Major  Munroe,  who  commanded, 
had  completed  his  arrangements  for  defense,  and  armed 
some  five  or  six  hundred  men,  among  whom  were  fifty 
or  sixty  sailors,  collected  from  the  vessels  in  port.  Cap 
tain  Walker  of  the  Rangers,  and  some  small  parties  of 
Texans  had  arrived  there,  and  was  speedily  engaged 
upon  important  duties.  Some  teams  having  returned 
to  Point  Isabel,  on  account  of  the  obstructions  of 
the  roads  by  the  Mexicans,  Captain  Walker  went  out  on 
the  28th  with  a  number  of  men  to  reconnoiter.  He  was 
driven  back  to  Point  Isabel  with  great  loss,  having  been 
attacked  when  midway  between  that  place  and  the  camp, 
by  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy.  His  raw  troops 
fled  in  confusion,  and  he  was  obliged  to  retreat.  He 
returned  with  only  two  men ;  seven  afterwards  came  in. 
He  estimated  the  force  of  the  enemy  at  fifteen  hundred, 
and  thought  that  many  of  them  must  have  fallen  in  the 
skirmish.  Notwithstanding  this  repulse,  Captain  Walker 
volunteered  to  carry  a  message  to  General  Taylor.  Ma 
jor  Munroe  having  accepted  the  offer,  he  started  on  the 


30  THE    WAK. 

Taylor's  marcli  to  Point  Isabel. 

evening  of  the  29th  and,  after  encountering  many  immi 
nent  dangers,  reached  the  camp  in  safety.  As  soon  as 
General  Taylor  had  received  Major  Munroe's  statement, 
he  determined  upon  a  movement  that  would  release 
him  from  the  embarrassment  of  having  the  communica 
tion  cut  off.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of 
May,  1846,  he  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Point  Isa 
bel,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  leaving  the  seventh 
regiment  of  infantry  and  two  companies  of  artillery 
under  Captain  Lowd  and  Lieutenant  Bragg,  to  complete 
the  works  in  the  fort,  and  defend  it  if  it  was  attacked. 
The  whole  was  put  under  command  of  Major  Brown. 
As  the  army  passed  out,  the  banks  of  the  river  on  the 
Matamoras  side  were  crowded  with  spectators  of  the 
departure  of  what  they  thought  our  discomfited  army, 
whilst  General  Arista  employed  himself  in  announcing 
the  "retreat"  of  General  Taylor  and  his  army  to  his 
government,  taking  care  to  pay  to  himself  and  his  brave 
men  the  tribute  so  signal  a  triumph  deserved. 

The  Mexicans,  however,  evinced  great  judgment  by 
refraining  from  attacking  him  on  the  way  to  Point  Isabel, 
as  it  afforded  them  an  opportunity  of  attacking  and  try 
ing  to  capture  his  fortified  camp  with  a  weakened  gar 
rison,  by  which,  if  successful,  they  would  have  a  vast 
advantage  over  him  when  he  returned,  and  also  they 
would  have  more  advantage  and  probability  of  success 
in  annoying  and  harassing  his  forces,  or  in  fighting  a 
pitched  battle  on  his  return  route,  encumbered  as  he 
would  be  by  two  or  three  hundred  loaded  wagons. 

The  Mexicans  were  too  sagacious  to  delay  improving 
these  advantages.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  a  bat 
tery  of  seven  guns  placed  in  the  town,  opened  a 


THE    WAR. 

Exploit  of  May  and  Walker. 


brisk  fire  upon  the  fort.  It  was  returned,  and  shortly 
silenced.  They  then  fired  shells  and  shot  from  the 
lower  fort  and  a  mortar  battery,  which  was  continued 
with  a  short  intermission  till  midnight.  During  all  this 
time  a  part  of  the  troops  laboured  to  complete  the  fortifi 
cations,  although  exposed  to  .he  full  range  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  By  the  fifteen  hundred  shot  fired  during  this 
first  day,  but  one  man  was  killed.  The  Americans 
stopped  firing  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  as  they 
were  wasting  ammunition  and  doing  no  injury,  except 
to  the  town.  This  silence  was  mistaken  by  the  enemy 
as  a  symptom  of  fear  or  despair,  they  momentarily  ex 
pected  a  surrender.' 

The  noise  of  this  cannonading  having  reached  Point 
Isabel,  General  Taylor  despatched  Captain  May  with 
Captain  Walker  and  a  hundred  men,  to  learn  something 
of  the  garrison,  and  reconnoiter  the  country.  They 
avoided  the  enemy,  and  penetrated  to  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  fort.  Captain  May  there  concealed  his  party  in 
the  chaparral,  and  Captain  Walker  with  six  rangers  pro 
ceeded  to  the  fort.  Walker  not  having  returned  to  the 
detachment,  May  feared  that  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to 
the  enemy,  and  as  the  Mexican  scouts  had  discovered 
his  own  position,  he  decided  to  return.  He  reached  the 
camp  in  safety,  having  on  the  way  pul  to  flight  and  pur 
sued  for  three  miles,  a  very  superior  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry.  The  supposed  loss  of  Captain  Walker,  who 
was  a  general  favourite,  cast  a  gloom  over  the  whole 
army,  which,  however,  was  speedily  dispelled  by  the 
appearance  of  that  gallant  officer,  bearing  the  gratifying 
intelligence  that  Major  Brown  was  able  to  maintain  his 
position.  Captain  Walker  had  returned  to  the  place 


32  THE     WAR. 

Preparations  for  assault  on  Fort  Brown. 


Fort  Brown. 


where  he  had  left  Captain  May,  and  finding  him  gone, 
returned  to  the  fort,  stating  that  the  Mexicans  had 
blocked  the  game  on  him  this  time,  but  that  he  would 
give  them  another  turn  when  it  was  dark.  Starting  from 
the  fort  at  night  with  his  party,  his  superior  knowledge 
of  the  country  only  enabling  him  to  avoid  the  numerous 
parties  of  the  enemy  who  were  aware  of  his  mission, 
and  on  the  alert  to  capture  him. 

At  the  fort,  during  the  4th,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  was 
not  renewed,  and  the  soldiers  laboured  with  energy  to 
complete  the  works.  On  the  following  day,  large  parties 
of  the  enemy,  both  horse  and  foot,  were  discovered  in 
the  rear  of  the  fort.  These  thousands  were  supported  by 
a  battery  that  had  been  erected  in  the  night,  and  which 
the  garrison  named  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  "  the  Bat 
tery  in  the  country."  This  battery,  with  those  in  Mata- 


THE     WAR.  33 

Signal  guns  fired  at  Fort  Brown. 

moras,  opened  with  shot  and  shell  in  the  afternoon,  and 
kept  up  a  galling  cross  fire.  At  nine  o'clock,  Lieutenant 
Hanson,  after  a  gallant  reconnoisance,  reported  the  erec 
tion  of  a  new  battery  at  the  cross  roads.  On  Wednes 
day  morning,  the  6th,  a  spirited  fire  was  kept  up 
against  the  fort,  the  shot  and  shells  being  well  directed. 
The  balls  falling  into  the  fortress  afforded  considerable 
merriment  to  the  soldiers,  who  were  sitting  idly  about, 
reserving  their  ammunition  in  case  of  need  under  an 
assault.  An  old  soldier,  who  prided  himself  on  his  culi 
nary  skill,  had  made  some,  coffee,  and  was  stooping  to 
pour  it  into  the  cups  of  his  mess,  when  a  ball  flying  over 
the  parapet,  struck  in  the  ashes  near  him  and  overturned 
the  beverage  into  the  fire.  The  disciple  of  Careme  and 
votar}  of  Mars,  shocked  at  the  disrespect,  gave  the  ball 
a  kic'  • ,  while  in  a  dolorous  voice  he  cursed  the  rascally 
Me>  cans  for  knocking  over  his  coffee. 

In  compliance  with  the  directions  given  by  General 
Tavlor  to  be  pursued  in  case  the  fort  was  surrounded, 
the  eighteen-pounders  were  fired  at  stated  intervals. 
The  enemy,  as  if  conscious  that  this  was  a  call  for  relief, 
reopened  their  fire  upon  the  fort.  The  officers  of  the 
garrison,  however,  reserved  their  ammunition  for  the  ex 
pected  assault.  The  bomb  proofs  were  built  at  points 
convenient  for  the  soldiers  to  retreat  into,  and  the  sen 
tinel  on  the  look  out  could  name  the  battery  from  which 
a  ball  or  shell  was  fired,  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  smoke 
of  the  discharge,  and  the  soldiers  would  have  time  to 
get  under  co  er  before  the  balls  rear-hed  them.  Shells 
were  frequr  itly  allowed  to  explod  harmlessly  in  the 
air,  by  the  soldiers  falling  flat  on  tLeir  faces,  when  one 
was  fired,  a  measure  which  a  Mexican,  elevated  to  a 


34  T  H  E     W  A  R. 


Fall  of  Major  Brown, 


considerable  height  in  a  tall  tree,  with  a  glass  in  his 
hand,  reported  to  his  comrades  as  being  what  it  seemed 
to  him,  a  mark  of  the  destruction  produced  by  their  fire. 
The  lamented  death  of  Major  Brown  occurred  at  this 
time,  May  6th.*  "We  give  the  following  graphic  account 
of  it,  taken  from  "Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande,"  by 
T.  B.  Thorpe,  Esq.  He  says,  "After  the  cross  firing, 
called  forth  with  so  much  energy  by  our  signal  eighteen 
pounders,  had  continued  for  three  hours  and  a  half,  the 
noble-minded  Major  Brown,  commander  of  the  fort, 
with  his  adjutant-lieutenant  by  his  side,  took  his  usual 
round  to  see  that  officers  and  men  were  at  their  posts. 
He  stopped  for  a  moment  to  give  directions  to  some  of 
the  soldiers  who  were  busily  employed  at  one  of  the 
bomb  proofs.  Every  instant  the  men  were  engaged  in 
dodging  to  avoid  the  ball  and  bursting  shell.  One  of 
the  latter,  from  "the  battery  in  the  country,"  struck  in 
the  parapet,  burying  itself  in  the  sand  without  explod 
ing  ;  a  cloud  of  dust  rose  into  the  air,  amid  which  the 
gallant  commander  was  seen  to  fall,  mortally  wounded, 
He  was  immediately  taken  to  the  hospital  tent,  and, 

*  The  death  of  Major  J.  Brown  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  army.  He 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  entered 
the  army  as  a  common  soldier,  in  the  7th  infantry,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war  of  1812.  His  merit  soon  raised  him  to  the  rank  of 
eftsign,  lieutenant,  and  finally  major.  He  did  good  service  in  the 
Florida  war ;  and  was  selected  by  General  Taylor  to  command  at  the 
fort  where  he  fell,  in  consequence  of  the  general's  high  opinion  of  his 
courage  and  ability.  General  Taylor  says  cf  him :  «  The  pleasure  (of 
victory)  is  alloyed  with  profound  regret  at  the  loss  of  the  heroic  and 
indomitable  Major  Brown.  His  loss  would  be  a  severe  one  to  the  service 
at  any  time,  but  to  the  army  under  my  orders,  it  is  indeed  irreparable." 
"In  the  case  of  Major  Brown  we  see  the  importance  of  occasional  pro 
motions  of  common  soldiers  to  the  rank  of  officers. 


THE    AVAR. 

Summons  to  Surrender. 


while  being  borne  in  the  arms  of  two  of  his  men,  he 
exhorted  those  about  him  never  to  give  up  the  fort.  His 
right  leg  had  been  shot  off,  exhibiting  the  torn  muscles, 
and  jagged  crushed  bones  to  the  pained  sight  of  his 
command.  Although  suffering  the  most  excruciating 
tortures,  he  remained  perfectly  calm,  rind  said  to  those 
who  were  sympathizingly  standing  about  him,  "  Men, 
go  to  your  duties,  stand  by  your  posts;  I  am  but  one 
among  you."  While  suffering  under  the  operation  of 
having  his  leg  amputated  above  the  knee,  which  was 
most  skilfully  done,  he  congratulated  his  country  that  the 
misfortune  had  befallen  him,  and  not  been  meted  out  to 
a  younger  man. 

Attempts  were  next  made  by  the  enemy  to  bring 
musketry  into  play  upon  the  garrison,  but  those  who  ap 
proached  for  the  purpose  were  scattered  with  some  loss 
by  a  few  rounds  of  canister.  The  bombardment  then 
grew  still  more  severe,  and  continued  till  noon.  In  the 
afternoon,  a  few  shells  were  thrown.  At  four  P.M.,  two 
Mexican  officers  approached  with  a  white  flag,  bearing 
a  communication  from  General  Arista,  which  proved  to 
be  a  summons  to  surrender,  the  humanity  of  the  Mexi 
cans  being  given  as  a  reason  for  the  demand,  although 
he  is  asserted  to  have  had  a  band  of  men  organized  and 
instructed  to  slaughter  the  garrison  as  soon  as  the  sur 
render  was  made.  Captain  Hawkins,  who  had  suc 
ceeded  Major  Brown  in  the  command,  summoned  a 
council  of  the  commissioned  officers,  and  stated  the  pur 
port  of  the  message,  (the  want  of  a  good  Spanish  inter 
preter  making  it  difficult  to  be  fully  understood,)  adding 
that  though  he  knew  there  was  but  one  sentiment  upon 
the  point,  he  thought  it  proper  that  all  the  officers  should 


36  THE     WAR. 

Answer. 

be  represented  in  the  reply.  It  was  then  unanimou  dy 
voted  to  defend  the  fort  to  the  death.  The  following 
reply  was  therefore  prepared  and  despatched  to  General 
Arista,  within  the  hour  that  had  been  allowed  for  a  reply. 

"Sin: — Your  humane  communication  has  just  been 
received,  and,  after  the  consideration  due  to  its  import 
ance,  I  must  respectfully  decline  to  surrender  my  forces 
to  you. 

The  exact  purport  of  your  despatch  I  cannot  feel 
confident  that  I  understand,  as  my  interpreter  is  not 
skilled  in  your  language  ;  but  if  I  have  understood  you 
correctly,  you  have  my  reply  above,"  &c.,  &c. 

The  reception  of  this  answer  was  the  signal  of  a  gene 
ral  burst  of  heavy  shot  upon  the  fort ;  but  the  Americans 
saved  their  ammunition  and  doubled  their  sentinels  dur 
ing  the  night,  in  expectation  of  an  attack.  During  the 
7th,  much  activity  was  manifested,  a  heavy  cannonade- 
being  maintained  all  day,  and  various  parties  firing  with 
muskets  into  the  fort  from  every  position.  The  garrison, 
however,  were  directed  not  to  return  the  fire  unless  they 
advanced  within  eighty  yards,  and  they  therefore  pre 
served  silence.  In  the  evening,  the  gallant  Major  Mans 
field  advanced  with  a  small  party  into  the  plain,  and 
leveled  the  traverse  formerly  occupied  by  the  Americans, 
and  which  now  served  to  shelter  the  enemy  while  firing 
on  the  fort.  A  large  quantity  of  chaparral,  used  in  a 
similar  manner,  was  also  cut  down.  At  midnight  the 
garrison  were  roused  by  a  terrible  discharge  of  musketry, 
and  the  sound  of  bugles,  but  the  anticipated  assault  did 
not  follow.  On  the  8th,  the  cannonade  was  recommenced 
at  daybreak,  and  continued  till  the  afternoon.  The 
"bombardment  had  hardly  ceased  when  a  severe  cannon- 


THE     WAK.  37 

Daatli  of  Major  Brown. 


ading  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Point  Isabel,  so  sud 
den  and  so  rapidly  that  it  seemed  to  be  one  continuous 
volley  of  field-pieces.  The  soldiers  in  the  fort  answered 
it  by  hearty  cheering ;  the  men  of  Matamoras,  by  a  re 
newal  of  the  firing  from  four  mortar  batteries  at  once. 
Yet  the  gallant  defenders  knew  that  General  Taylor  was 
on  his  way  to  succour  them,  and  they  stood  upon  the 
parapet  to  listen  to  the  far  distant  firing,  while  the  ter 
rific  rain  from  the  enemy's  batteries  poured  unheeded 
around  them.  Towards  night,  they  learned  from  a  Mexi 
can  the  events  of  the  field  of  Palo  Alto,  and  the  know 
ledge  that  the  victory  rested  with  their  friends  made  the 
quiet  night,  their  nearer  enemies  permitted  them  to  enjoy, 
the  more  refreshing.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  an 
officer  of  the  7th  regiment  went  outside  of  the  fort  to 
the  flagstaff,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  the  halyards, 
which  bad  become  unrigged  on  the  previous  day.  He 
succeeded  in  lowering  the  topmast  of  the  staff  and  rig 
ging  the  halyards,  the  enemy  playing  upon  him  with 
round  shot  and  shell  from  all  their  batteries.  He  was 
not  strong  enough  to  raise  the  flagstaff  to  its  proper 
place,  he  therefore  coolly  lashed  it  in  its  position,  and 
gave  the  flag  to  the  breeze. 

On  this  day  Major  Brown  expired.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  every  thing  in  the  fort  was  perfectly  still,  and 
the  silence  was  unbroken  until  the  report  of  Ridgely's 
batteries  on  the  field  of  the  Resaca  de  la  Palmawere 
heard.  "No  language,"  says  Mr.  Thorpe,  "can  de 
scribe  the  intense  interest  with  which  the  raging  battle 
was  listened  to:  each  man  was  at  his  post,  arid  every 
booming  gun  called  forth  an  almost  agonizing  interest  to 
learn  its  nationality  and  effects.  Meanwhile  the  bom- 


38  THE    WAR. 

Flight  of  the  enemy  seen  from  the  Fort. 

barclment  opened  simultaneously  with  the  firing  on  the 
field,  and  continued  to  increase  with  unprecedented 
severity ;  but  it  was  not  to  the  batteries  of  the  Mexicans 
that  attention  was  directed.  Our  eighteen-pounders 
were  occasionally  fired,  to  let  General  Taylor  know  that 
all  was  still  well  in  the  fort.  The  firing  on  the  battle 
field  wras  now  growing  less  and  less  powerful,  and  the 
discharges  were  becoming  irregular.  '  They  have  charged 
on  the  guns !'  shouted  one  of  the  officers !  Another  and 
another  was  silenced.  'They  have  carried  them!' 
shouted  another,  in  uncontrollable  ecstacy ;  all  cannonad 
ing  ceased ;  volleys  of  musketry  were  next  heard,  then  all 
was  still.  How  eloquently  the  silence  spoke  of  the 
hand-to-hand  conflict,  and  how  the  blood  in  the  hearts 
of  these  brave  men  went  and  came  from  excitement  to 
be  engaged  in  it!  The  victorious  result  of  our  arms 
was  now  almost  certain.  General  Taylor  and  his  brave 
men  would  either  conquer  or  die.  No  bells  were  now 
ringing  in  Matamoras,  and  the  noisy  music  that  was 
wont  to  belabour  the  air  had  been  silenced  since  the 
evening  of  the  8th.  This,  to  the  heroes  of  the  fort, 
was  full  of  meaning,  and  the  tale  was  soon  told.  At  a  little 
before  six  a  confused  rush  of  cavalry  and  straggling  in 
fantry  towards  the  Rio  Grande,  announced  the  victory 
of  the  Americans,  at  sight  of  which,  an  officer  of  the 
7th  regiment  jumped  upon  the  parapet,  beside  the  regi 
mental  flagstaff,  and  gave  three  cheers,  which  were  re- 
sponded  to  so  loudly  and  heartily  by  all  in  the  fort,  that 
they  silenced  the  enemy's  batteries,  for  from  that  moment 
they  ceased  firing.  The  news  had  reached  Matamoras, 
that  to  Mexico  the  day  was  lost."  Besides  Major 
Brown,  one  non-commissioned  officer  killed,  and  ten 


THE    WAS.  39 

March,  from  Point  IsabeL 

men  wounded  was  the  amount  of  loss  that  the  garrison 
sustained  during  one  hundred  and  sixty  hours  severe 
bombardment. 

General  Taylor  had  left  Point  Isabel  on  the  evening 
of  the  7th  of  May,  and  moved  with  the  main  body  of 
the  army  towards  the  Rio  Grande.  After  marching 
seven  miles,  they  bivouacked  on  their  arms,  and  resumed 
the  march  on  the  following  morning.  At  noon  they  dis 
covered  the  enemy,  prepared  to  oppose  their  progress, 
stretched  out  on  the  flat  prairie  more  than  a  mile. 

We  give  here  the  clear  and  concise  account  of  this 
battle,  given  by  General  Taylor  in  his  official  despatches, 
reserving  for  another  portion  of  the  work  more  minute 
details  and  personal  anecdotes. 

"About  noon,  when  our  advance  of  cavalry  had 
reached  the  water  hole  of  '  Palo  Alto,'  the  Mexican 
troops  were  reported  in  our  front,  and  were  soon  dis 
covered  occupying  the  road  in  force.  I  ordered  a  halt 
upon  reaching  the  water,  with  the  view  to  rest  and  re 
fresh  the  men,  and  to  form  deliberately  our  line  of  bat 
tle.  The  Mexican  line  was  now  plainly  visible  across 
the  prairie,  and  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant. 
Their  left,  which  was  composed  of  a  heavy  force  of 
cavalry,  occupied  the  road,  resting  upon  a  thicket  of 
chaparral,  while  masses  of  infantry  were  discovered  in 
succession  on  the  right,  greatly  outnumbering  our  own 
force. 

Our  line  of  battle  was  now  formed  in  the  following 
order,  commencing  on  the  extreme  right : — 5th  infantry, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh ;  Major 
Ringgold's  artillery ;  3d  infantry,  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  L,  N.  Morris ;  two  eighteen-pounders,  commanded 


40  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Palo  Alto. 


by  Lieutenant  Churchill,  3d  artillery  ;  4th  infantry,  com 
manded  by  Major  G.  W.  Allen ;  the  3d  and  4th  regi 
ments  composed  the  third  brigade,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland ;  and  all  the  above  corps, 
together  with  two  squadrons  of  dragoons  under  Captains 
Ker  and  May,  composed  the  right  wing  under  the  orders 
of  Colonel  Twiggs.  The  left  was  formed  by  the  bat 
talion  of  artillery  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Childs.  *  Captain  Duncan's  light  artillery,  and  the  8th 
infantry,  under  Captain  Montgomery — all  forming  the 
first  brigade,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Belk- 
nap.  The  train  was  packed  near  the  water,  under  direc 
tion  of  Captains  Grossman  and  Myers,  and  protected  by 
Captain  Ker's  squadron. 

At  two  oclock  we  took  up  the  march  by  heads  of 
columns,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy — the  eighteen- 
pounder  battery  following  the  road.  While  the  columns 
were  advancing,  Lieutenant  Blake,  topograph'  jal  engi 
neer,  volunteered  a  reconnoisance  of  the  ene  ny's  line, 
which  was  handsomely  performed,  and  resu  ted  in  the 
discovery  of  at  least  two  batteries  of  artiJery  in  the 
intervals  of  their  cavalry  and  infantry.  Those  batteries 
were  soon  opened  upon  us,  when  I  ordered  the  columns 
halted  and  deployed  into  line,  and  the  fire  to  be  returned 
by  all  our  artillery.  The  8th  infantry  on  our  extreme 
left,  was  thrown  back  to  secure  that  flank.  The  first 
fires  of  the  enemy  did  little  execution,  while  our  eighteen- 
pounders  and  Major  Ringgold's  artillery  soon  dispersed 
the  cavalry  which  formed  his  left. — Captain  Duncan's 
battery,  thrown  forward  in  advance  of  the  line,  was 
doing  good  execution  at  this  time.  Captain  May's 
squadron  was  now  detached  to  support  that  battery,  and 


THE     WAR.  43 

Battle  of  Falo  Alto. 


the  left  of  our  position.  The  Mexican  cavalry,  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  were  now  reported  to  be  moving 
through  the  chaparral  to  our  right,  to  threaten  that  flank, 
or  make  a  demonstration  against  the  train.  The  5th 
infantry  was  immediately  detached  to  check  this  move 
ment,  and  supported  by  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  with  a  sec 
tion  of  Major  Ringgold's  battery  and  Captain  Walker's 
company  of  volunteers,  effectually  repulsed  the  enemy — 
the  5th  infantry  repelling  a  charge  of  lancers,  and  the 
artillery  doing  great  execution  in  their  ranks.  The  3d 
infantry  was  now  detached  to  the  right  as  a  still  farther 
security  to  that  flank  yet  threatened  by  the  enemy.  Ma 
jor  Ringgold,  with  the  remaining  section,  kept  up  his 
fire  from  an  advanced  position,  and  was  supported  by 
the  4th  infantry. 

The  grass  of  the  prairie  had  been  accidentally  fired 
by  our  artillery,  and  the  volumes  of  smoke  now  partially 
concealed  the  armies  from  each  other.  As  the  enemy's 
left  had  evidently  been  driven  back  and  left  the  road 
free,  as  the  cannonade  had  been  suspended,  I  ordered 
forward  the  eighteen-pounders  on  the  road  nearly  to  the 
position  first  occupied  by  the  Mexican  cavalry,  and 
caused  the  first  brigade  to  take  up  a  new  position  still 
on  the  left  of  the  eighteen-pounder  battery.  The  5th 
was  advanced  from  its  former  position  and  occupied  a 
point  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  new  line.  The  enemy 
made  a  change  of  position  corresponding  to  our  own, 
and  after  the  suspension  of  nearly  an  hour  the  action 
was  resumed. 

The  fire  of  artillery  was  now  most  destructive— open 
ings  ware  constantly  made  through  the  enemy's  ranks 
by  our  fire,  and  the  constancy  with  which  the  Mexican 


44  THE     WAR. 


Death,  of  Major  Ringgold, 


infantry  sustained  the  severe  cannonade  was  a  theme  of 
universal  remark  and  admiration.  Captain  May's  squad 
ron  was  detached  to  make  a  demonstration  on  the  left 
of  the  enemy's  position,  and  suffered  severely  from  the 
fire  of  artillery  to  which  it  was  for  some  time  exposed. 
The  4th  infantry,  which  had  been  ordered  to  support 
the  eighteen-pounder  battery,  was  exposed  to  a  most 
galling  fire  of  artillery,  by  which  several  men  were 
killed,  and  Captain  Page  dangerously  wounded.  The 
enemy's  fire  was  directed  against  our  eighteen-pounder 
battery,  and  the  guns  under  Major  Ringgold,  in  its  vici 
nity.  The  major  himself,  while  coolly  directing  the  fire 
of  his  pieces,  was  struck  by  a  cannon  ball  and  mortally 
wounded.* 

In  the  mean  time  the  battalion  of  artillery  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Childs,  had  been  brought  up  to  support 
the  artillery  on  our  right.  A  strong  demonstration  of 
cavalry  was  now  made  by  the  enemy  against  this  part 
of  our  line,  and  the  column  continued  to  advance  under 
a  severe  fire  from  the  eighteen-pounders.  The  battalion 
was  instantly  formed  in  square,  and  held  ready  to  receive 

*  The  death  of  Major  Ringgold  was  universally  lamented.  He  was 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland,  born  in  1800.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Military  Academy,  West  Point;  graduated  in  1818; 
entered  the  army  as  lieutenant ;  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant 
in  1822,  and  to  that  of  captain  in  1834.  His  brevet  rank  of  major 
was  the  reward  of  severe  service  in  the  Florida  war.  To  his  exertions 
in  perfecting  the  discipline  of  the  light  artillery,  the  country  is  chiefly 
indebted  for  the  efficiency  of  that  important  arm  of  the  national  defense. 

Major  Ringgold's  connections  were  of  the  first  respectability.  His 
father  was  General  Samuel  Ringgold,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  General  John  Cadwalader,  who  was  greatly  distinguished  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  His  conduct  and  character  as  an  officer  and  a  gentle 
man  wera  in  every  respect  worthy  of  so  highly  honourable  a  descent. 


THE     WAR.  45 


Loss,  &o.,  at  Falo  Alto. 


the  charge  of  cavalry  ;  but  when  the  advancing  squad 
rons  were  within  close  range  a  deadly  fire  of  canister 
from  the  eighteen-pounders  dispersed  them.  A  brisk 
fire  of  small  arms  was  now  opened  upon  the  square,  by 
which  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Luther,  2d  artillery,  was 
slightly  \vounded  ;  but  a  well-directed  volley  from  the 
front  of  the  square  silenced  all  farther  firing  from  the 
enemy  in  this  quarter.  It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  the 
action  was  closed  on  the  right  of  our  line,  the  enemy 
having  been  completely  driven  back  from  his  position, 
and  foiled  in  every  attempt  against  our  line. 

While  the  above  was  going  forward  on  our  right,  and 
under  my  own  eye,  the  enemy  had  made  a  serious 
attempt  against  the  left  of  our  line.  Captain  Duncan 
instantly  perceived  the  movement,  and  by  the  bold  and 
brilliant  manceuvering  of  this  battery,  completely  repulsed 
several  successive  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  advance  in 
force  upon  our  left  flank.  Supported  in  succession  by 
the  8th  infantry  and  Captain  Ker's  squadron  of  dragoons, 
he  gallantly  held  the  enemy  at  bay,  and  finally  drove 
him,  with  immense  loss,  from  the  field.  The  action 
here  and  along  the  \vhole  line,  continued  until  dark, 
when  the  enemy  retired  into  the  chaparral  in  rear  of  his 
position. 

Our  loss  this  day  was  nine  killed,  forty-four  wounded, 
and  two  missing.  Among  the  wounded  were  Major  Ring- 
gold,  who  has  since  died,  and  Captain  Page  dangerously 
wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Luther  slightly  so.  I  annex 
a  tabular  statement  of  the  casualties  of  the  day. 

Our  own  force  engaged  is  shown  by  the  field  report, 
herewith  transmitted,  to  have  been  one  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  officers  and  two  thousand  one  hundred 


46  THE     WAR. 

Arista's  Despatch. 


and  eleven  men ;  aggregate,  two  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eighty-eight.  The  Mexican  force,  according  to  the 
statement  of  their  own  officers,  taken  prisoners  in  the 
affair  of  the  9th,  was  not  less  than  six  thousand  regular 
troops,  with  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  and  probably  exceed 
ed  that  number — the  irregular  force  not  known.  Their 
loss  was  not  less  than  two  hundred  killed,  and  four 
hundred  wounded — probably  greater.  This  estimate  is 
very  moderate,  and  founded  upon  the  number  actually 
counted  on  the  field,  and  upon  the  reports  of  their  own 
officers. 

As  already  reported  in  my  first  brief  despatch,  the 
conduct  of  our  officers  and  men  was  every  thing  that 
could  be  desired.  Exposed  for  hours  to  the  severest 
trials — a  cannonade  of  artillery — our  troops  displayed  a 
coolness  and  constancy  which  gave  me  throughout  the 
assurance  of  victory.  I  purposely  defer  the  mention  of 
individuals  until  my  report  of  the  action  of  the  9th,  when 
I  will  endeavour  to  do  justice  to  the  many  instances  of 
distinguished  conduct  on  both  days." 

The  Mexicans  evinced  great  determination  in  this  first 
day's  battle,  and  remained  almost  within  sight  of  the 
American  army  during  the  night.  General  Arista  em 
ployed  the  night  in  writing  a  despatch  to  the  minister  of 
war  and  marine,  giving  an  eloquent  account  of  what  he 
claimed  as  his  victory,  and  at  daybreak  on  the  9th, 
slowly  moved  into  the  chaparral,  leaving  General  Taylor 
in  possession  of  the  battle-field.  Fearing  that  the  enemy 
might  dispute  his  progress  towards  Fort  Brown,  as  the 
fortification  opposite  Matamoras  was  now  named,  he 
ordered  the  train  to  be  strongly  parked.  An  intrench- 
ment  was  thrown  up,  and  the  artillery  battalion,  with  two 


THE    WAB.  47 

Death  of  lieutenant  Blake. 

eighteen-pounders  and  two  twelve-pounders  were  as 
signed  to  its  defence. 

The  army  then  moved  over  the  plain  in  line  of  battle 
with  lively  music,  marking  every  where  around  them 
the  evidences  of  the  terrible  destruction  produced  by 
the  American  artillery  on  the  previous  day.  Wounded 
soldiers,  dying  of  thirst  and  hunger,  received  relief  from 
their  generous  enemies.  The  ground  was  covered  with 
torn  clothing,  military  caps,  gun-stocks,  and  large  quan 
tities  of  cartridges  for  muskets  and  artillery.  On  the  edge 
of  the  chaparral,  the  army  halted  at  a  place  convenient 
to  water.  A  detachment  under  Captain  McCall  was 
sent  forward  into  the  chaparral  to  ascertain  the  position 
of  the  enemy.  General  Taylor  then  rode  back  to  the 
train,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  J.  E.  Blake  of  the 
topographical  corps,  who  had  displayed  the  utmost  gal 
lantry  on  the  previous  day.  At  the  train,  Lieutenant 
Blake  dismounted  from  his  horse  to  procure  some  refresh 
ment,  and  expressed  gratification  at  the  prospect  of  a 
little  rest,  his  labours  during  the  previous  twenty-four 
hours  having  been  very  arduous.  He  unbuckled  his 
holsters  and  threw  them  on  the  ground,  when  one  of  the 
pistols  unaccountably  exploded,  throwing  the  ball  up 
wards  into  his  body.  He  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
expired  shortly  after,  expressing  his  regret  that  he  had 
not  died  on  the  battle-field  on  the  preceding  day. 

Captain  McCall  with  the  advance  guard  found  the 
enemy  intrenched  at  La  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  the  Dry 
River  of  Palms,  a  strong  position  entirely  commanding 
the  approach  to  Fort  Brown.  At  this  place  the  road 
crosses  a  ravine  sixty  yards  wide  and  nearly  breast  high, 
the  bottom  being  wet,  forming  long  and  serpentine  ponds 


48  THE     WAR. 

Gallantry  of  Bidgely. 

through  the  prairie.  Along  the  banks  of  this  dry  river, 
and  more  particularly  on  the  side  then  occupied  by  the 
Mexicans,  the  chaparral  grows  most  densely,  and  at  this 
time,  save  where  it  was  broken  in  by  the  passage  of  the 
road,  formed  almost  a  solid  wall.  The  enemy  occupied 
this  ravine  in  double  line ;  one  behind  and  under  the 
front  bank,  and  the  other  intrenched  behind  the  wall  of 
the  chaparral  on  the  top  of  the  rear  ridge.  A  battery 
was  placed  in  the  centre  of  each  line  on  the  right  and 
left  of  the  road,  and  a  third  battery^was  on  the  right  of 
the  first  line.  Six  or  seven  thousand  troops  were  thus 
strongly  fortified  in  a  form  resembling  a  crescent,  be 
tween  the  horns  of  which  the  army  had  to  pass,  while 
the  Mexican  batteries  were  enfilading  and  cross  firing, 
the  narrow  road  which  formed  the  only  unobstructed 
approach  to  their  position.  Lieutenant  Ridgely.  the 
successor  of  Ringgold,  was  ordered  forward  on  the  road, 
while  the  3d,  4th,  and  5th  regiments  of  infantry  were 
ordered  forward  as  skirmishers  to  cover  the  battery  and 
engage  the  infantry  of  the  enemy.  General  Taylor  and 
his  staff  came  up  with  Captain  McCall  and  his  party  at 
four  o'clock.  He  immediately  deployed  Captain  McCall 
to  the  left  of  the  road,  and  Captain  C.  F.  Smith  to  the 
right,  with  orders  to  bring  on  the  action. 

Having  received  orders  to  advance,  Lieutenant  Ridge 
ly  moved  cautiously  forward  with  Captain  Walker,  who 
was  charged  with  assisting  him  to  find  the  enemy's 
batteries.  At  the  instant  they  discovered  them,  they 
received  a  fire  from  them,  which  Ridgely,  moving  about 
a  hundred  yards  to  the  front,  returned  with  spirit.  This 
contest  was  maintained  for  some  time,  their  balls  filling  the 
air,  and  passing  through  Ridgely's  battery  in  every  direc- 


THE     WAR.  49 

Action  Commences, 


tion.  His  men  worked  at  their  guns  with  invincible  de 
termination,  and  he  himself  sighted  them  with  all  the 
coolness  and  certainty  of  ordinary  target  practice.  These 
well-directed  charges  were  necessary  to  keep  off  the 
enemy  who  were  constantly  charging  upon  him,  and 
whom  he  had  sometimes  to  beat  back  with  his  own 
sword.  The  rapid  firing  of  the  artillery  on  both  sides  pro 
duced  an  unintermitted  roar.  Colonel  Duncan's  bat 
tery  was  at  the  edge  of  the  ravine,  but  he  could  not 
use  it;  Lieutenant  Ridgely  holding  the  only  position 
from  which  the  enemy  could  be  assailed  without  galling 
our  troops.  These  had  come  into  the  action  in  the  most 
extraordinary  manner,  the  firing  of  their  musketry  being 
heard  at  almost  the  same  instant  that  Ridgely  opened  his 
fire  in  the  centre.*  The  6th  regiment  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Mclntosh  supported  Ridgely's  battery.  The  3d 

*  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  artillery,  during  the  whole  course  of  the 
present  war,  has  proved  the  most  efficient  arm  of  the  service  in  deter 
mining  the  fate  of  battles,  with,  perhaps,  the  exception  of  the  rifle  corp3 
in  the  recent  battles  near  the  city  of  Mexico.  Nothing  can  exceed  the 
efficiency  and  bravery  of  the  rifle  corps.  General  Scott's  pointed  eulogy 
of  their  conduct  was  richly  deserved. 

The  efficiency  of  this  arm  of  the  national  defense,  as  we  have  had 
occasion  to  remark  in  another  place,  is  greatly  owing  to  the  indefatigable 
exertions  of  Major  Ringgold.  In  this  important  service  the  major  was 
aided  by  Captain  Duncan,  whose  battery  rendered  most  efficient  service 
in  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th  of  May,  as  well  as  in  the  other  most 
important  engagements  of  the  war.  The  batteries  of  Sherman,  Bragg, 
and  Washington  have  also  become  famous,  especially  by  their  efficient 
service  at  Buena  Vista. 

The  services  of  the  artillery  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  were  so  es 
sential,  that  it  is  considered  by  all  military  men,  that  the  absence  of  a 
email  portion  of  it  would  undoubtedly  have  occasioned  the  loss  of  tho 
battle. 

3 


50  T  H  E     W  A  R. 


May's  cliarge. 


regiment  with  a  part  of  the  4th  came  up  on  the  enemy's 
right,  and  the  other  portion  of  the  4th  joined  with  the 
5th  on  the  left.  The  3d  and  4th  were  separated  by  the 
chaparral,  through  which  the  soldiers  literally  pushed 
each  other  into  squads  of  five  or  six,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  form  in  the  ravine.  The  8th,  under  Captain 
Montgomery,  with  Smith's  light  and  other  corps,  faced 
to  the  right.  The  best  troops  of  Mexico  were  now  con 
tending  with  the  greatest  bravery  for  victory.  The  con 
test  with  artillery  and  musketry,  the  sword  and  the  bay 
onet,  at  the  end  of  two  hours,  resulted  in  the  Americans 
gaining  possession  of  the  ravine  in  which  the  enemy 
were  posted  at  the  beginning  of  the  action.  Yet  the 
batteries  in  the  centre  still  stood  firm,  pouring  a  perfect 
shower  of  grape  and  shells  into  the  American  front,  and 
prevented  General  Taylor  from  reaping  the  advantages 
which  the  bravery  of  his  troops  would  otherwise  have 
secured.  Captain  May  rode  back  to  the  general,  and 
asked  if  he  should  charge  the  battery  on  the  other  side 
of  the  ravine.  "  Charge,  captain,  nolens  volens,"  was 
the  reply,  and  away  dashed  the  gallant  fellow.*  He 
rode  to  the  head  of  his  command  ;  every  rein  and  sabre 
was  tightly  grasped.  Raising  himself  in  the  saddle,  he 
shouted  to  his  command,  "  We  are  ordered  to  take  that 
battery — follow!"  In  columns  of  fours,  they  dashed 
along  the  narrow  road,  until  they  came  to  where  Lieu 
tenant  Ridgely  obstructed  their  advance.  "  I  am  ordered 
to  charge  those  batteries,"  said  May,  coming  to  a  halt. 
Ridgely  knowing  the  perilous  nature  of  the  duty,  said, 
"Wait,  Charley,  till  I  draw  their  fire!"  All  begrimed 

*  Henry's  Campaign  Sketches. 


THE    WAR.  51 

Capture  of  La  Vega. 


with  powder  and  labouring  with  his  own  hands,  he  fired 
his  pieces  slowly  and  with  the  usual  deadly  effect.  A 
storm  of  copper  balls  came  whizzing  and  crushing  among 
the  artillerists  iu  reply,  while  Ridgely  and  his  men  lim 
bered  up,  jumped  on  their  pieces,  and  cheered  as  May 
dashed  forward.  An  overwhelming  discharge  of  grape 
and  bullets  from  the  other  battery  destroyed  his  first  and 
second  platoons,  but  he  was  unhurt,  and  with  those  who 
lived  swept  to  the  left  of  the  road  leaped  over  the  bat 
tery  and  drove  the  Mexicans  from  their  guns.  But  they 
seemed  determined  to  retain  their  pieces  or  die :  they 
rushed  back  to  them  with  the  bayonet,  and  commenced 
to  load  them  again  with  grape.  May  then  charged  back 
upon  our  own  lines,  and  the  enemy  shrunk  in  terroi 
from  the  stroke  of  his  sword.  One  man,  General  La 
Vega,  alone  maintained  his  ground,  and  tried  to  rally 
his  men ;  but  was  made  a  prisoner  by  Captain  May,  and 
carried  under  a  galling  fire  from  his  own  countrymen  to 
our  lines.  The  infantry  now  gathered  round  the  batte 
ries  in  masses,  crossing  bayonets  for  their  possession, 
over  the  very  muzzles  of  the  guns.  In  a  short  time, 
Captain  Belknap,  with  the  8th  infantry,  and  Captain  Mar 
tin  Scott,  with  the  5th,  were  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand 
conflict  with  the  far-famed  Tampico  veterans,  who  had 
been  in  twenty  battles  and  were  never  defeated.  The 
battery  was  carried,  and  the  8th  and  the  5th  charged 
up  the  ravine  amidst  a  terrible  fire  from  the  enemy's 
right  and  front.  The  battery  of  Colonel  Duncan  now 
came  into  the  front,  and  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  was 
hastened  by  his  deadly  fire.  While  the  centre  battery 
of  the  enemy  was  being  carried,  Lieutenants  Ruggles 
and  Crittenden,  with  a  small  command  of  the  5th  and 


52  THE    WAR. 


Capture  of  Arista's  Despatches. 


the  8th  infantry,  all  under  Captain  Montgomery,  routed 
the  right  wing  and  carried  the  right  battery.  Between 
this  and  the  centre  battery,  the  Tampico  regiment  had 
been  posted,  all  of  whom,  except  seventeen,  are  said  to 
have  fallen  at  their  posts.  Their  tri-colour  was  the  last 
Mexican  flag  waving  on  the  field,  and  the  gallant  fellow 
who  bore  it,  when  all  hope  was  lost,  tore  it  from  the 
staff,  and  concealed  it  about  his  person  while  he  at 
tempted  to  fly.  He  was  ,-idden  down  by  the  dragoons, 
however,  and  made  a  prisoner,  and  his  flag  was  a  trophy 
of  the  victory. 

The  hurry  of  the  Mexicans  to  escape  was  so  great, 
that  many  of  them  were  drowned  in  the  river.  Immense 
quantities  of  baggage,  military  stores,  and  camp  equipage 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  ;  the  personal,  pub 
lic,  and  private  property  of  Arista,  and  all  his  despatches 
being  among  the  spoils.  The  American  army  passed 
the  night  on  the  battle-field,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fes 
tival  which  had  been  prepared  by  the  followers  of  the 
Mexican  camp  to  regal?  their  friends  after  the  anticipated 
victory.  In  his  despatch  after  this  brilliant  victory  Ge 
neral  Taylor  says  : 

" "  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  has  been  most 
severe.  Our  own  has  been  very  heavy,  and  I  deeply 
regret  to  report  that  Lieutenant  Inge,  2d  dragoons,  Lieu 
tenant  Cochrane,  4th  infantry,  t.nd  Lieutenant  Chad- 
bourne,  8th  infantry,  were  killed  on  the  field.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Payne,  4th  artillery,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mclntosh,  Lieutenant  Dobbins,  3d  infantry,  Captain  Hooe 
and  Lieutenant  Fowler,  5th  infantry ;  and  Captain  Mont 
gomery,  Lieutenants  Gates,  Selden,  McClay,  Burbank, 
and  Jordan,  8th  infantry  were  wounded.  The  extent  of 


THE    WAR.  55 

General  Taylor's  Despatch. 

our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  not  yet  ascertained, 
and  is  reserved  for  a  more  detailed  report. 

The  affair  of  to-day  may  be  regarded  as  a  proper  sup 
plement  to  the  cannonade  of  yesterday ;  and  the  two 
taken  together,  exhibit  the  coolness  and  gallantry  of  our 
officers  and  men  in  the  most  favourable  light.  All  have 
done  their  duty  and  done  it  nobly.  It  will  be  my  pride, 
in  a  more  circumstantial  report  of  both  actions,  to  dwell 
upon  particular  instances  of  individual  distinction. 

It  affords  me  peculiar  pleasure  to  report  that  the  field- 
work  opposite  to  Matamoras  has  sustained  itself  hand 
somely  during  a  cannonade  and  bombardment  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  hours.  But  the  pleasure  is  alloyed 
with  profound  regret  at  the  loss  of  its  heroic  and  indo 
mitable  commander,  Major  Brown,  who  died  to-day  from 
the  effect  of  a  shell.  His  loss  would  be  a  severe  one  to 
the  service  at  any  time,  but  to  the  army  under  my  orders, 
it  is  indeed  irreparable.  One  officer  and  one  non-com 
missioned  officer  killed,  and  ten  men  wounded,  comprise 
all  the  casualties  incident  to  this  severe  bombardment. 

I  inadvertently  omitted  to  mention  the  capture  of 
a  large  number  of  pack-mules  left  in  the  Mexican 
camp." 

"  So  confident,"  says  Captain  Henry,  in  his  interesting 
work,  <  Campaign  Sketches  of  the  War  with  Mexico,' 
"  were  the  Mexicans  of  victory,  that  Ampudia,  speaking 
to  Captain  Thornton,  who  was  then  their  prisoner, 
said, '  it  was  utterly  impossible  it  could  be  otherwise  ; 
that  their  numbers  alone  were  sufficient,  independent  of 
those  veteran  regiments.'  General  La  Vega  said,  that  '  if 
he  had  any  sum  of  money  in  camp  he  should  have  consi 
dered  it  as  safe  as  if  at  the  city  of  Mexico ;  and  he 


54  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

Taylor's  marcli  to  Point  Isabel. 

would  have  bet  any  amount  that  no  ten  thousand  men 
could  have  driven  them  off.' ' 

Our  loss  in  this  action  was  three  officers  and  thirty-six 
men  killed,  and  twelve  officers  and  fifty-nine  men 
wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  was  not  less  than  two  thousand,  taking  the 
two  days  fighting  together. 

On  the  morning  after  the  battle,  General  Taylor,  with 
characteristic  humanity,  sent  to  Matamoras  for  Mexican 
surgeons  to  attend  to  their  wounded,  and  for  men  to 
bury  their  dead.  The  American  army  was  occupied  at 
the  same  time  upon  the  same  mournful  duty. 

On  the  llth  General  Taylor  again  left  Fort  Brown  for 
Point  Isabel,  in  order  to  arrange  with  Commodore  Conner 
the  plan  of  a  combined  land  and  naval  attack  upon  the 
Mexican  posts  on  the  Rio  Grande.  While  at  the  Point,  he 
despatched  a  hasty  letter  to  Washington,  from  which  we 
make  the  following  extracts:  "I  avail  myself  of  this 
brief  time  at  my  command  to  report  that  the  main  body 
of  the  army  is  now  occupying  its  former  position  oppo 
site  Matamoras.  The  Mexican  forces  are  almost  disor 
ganized,  and  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  investing  Matamoras, 
and  opening  the  navigation  of  the  river."  *  *  *  "I 
have  exchanged  a  sufficient  number  of  prisoners  to 
recover  the  command  of  Captain  Thornton.  The  wound- 
,ed  prisoners  have  been  sent  to  Matamoras  ;  the  wounded 
officers  on  their  parole.  General  Vega  and  a  few  others 
have  been  sent  to  New  Orleans,  having  declined  a  parole, 
and  will  be  reported  to  Major-General  Gaines.  I  am 
not  conversant  with  the  usages  of  war  in  such  cases, 
and  beg  that  such  provision  may  bt  made  for  these  pri 
soners  as  may  be  authorized  by  law  Our  own  prisoners 


THE  VAR.  55 

Capture  of  Barita. 


have  been  treated  with  great  kindness  by  the  Mexican 
officers." 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  he  started  for  camp  with 
an  escort  of  dragoons,  but  having  been  met  by  an  express 
with  the  information  that  large  bodies  of  fresh  troops 
had  arrived  at  Matamoras,  and  that  the  enemy  was  con 
centrating  troops  at  Barita,  he  returned  to  the  Point. 
Here  he  found  a  newly  arrived  detachment  of  troops 
from  New  Orleans,  including  regulars  and  volunteers 
from  Louisiana  and  Alabama,  an  accession  which  ena 
bled  him  to  withdraw  from  the  Point  a  force  of  six 
hundred  men  with  a  train  of  artillery,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons,  and  a  large  quantity  of  military  and  other 
stores.  With  this  force  he  set  out  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th  for  Fort  Brown.  He  had  previously  arranged 
a  plan  for  an  attack  upon  Barita,  a  small  town  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  on  the  Mexican  side  of 
the  river.  This  was  executed  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wilson,  who  captured  the  place  without  opposition.  It 
speedily  became  a  place  of  importance  as  the  depot  of 
the  new  base  of  operations,  being  the  first  high  land 
reached  in  ascending  the  river  above  hurricane  tides, 
and  in  a  military  point  of  view,  commanding  every  thing 
around  it,  and  commanded  by  nothing. 

Want  of  the  necessary  means  of  transportation  pre 
vented  General  Taylor  from  crossing  the  Rio  Grande  to 
attack  Matamoras  until  the  17th.  On  that  day  Colonel 
Twiggs  was  ordered  to  cross  above  the  city,  whilst  Colo 
nel  Wilson  was  to  make  a  demonstration  from  Barita. 
The  Mexicans  then  attempted  to  induce  General  Taylor 
to  agree  to  an  armistice,  that  they  might  be  able  to  carry 
off  the  public  stores  and  munitions  of  war  with  wrhich 


66  T  H  E     W  A  R. 

Capture  of  Matamoras. 


Matamoras  was  filled,  but  General  Taylor  was  too  well 
versed  in  Mexican  cunning  to  be  cajoled.  He  stated 
that  he  had  offered  an  armistice  a  month  before,  which 
Ampudia  had  declined ;  that  he  had  neither  invited  nor 
provoked  hostilities,  but  that  he  would  not  now  suspend 
them  while  he  was  receiving  large  reinforcements ;  that 
the  possession  of  Matamoras  was  now  necessary  to  his 
troops,  but  that  the  Mexican  army  might  retire,  leaving 
behind  them  public  property  of  every  description.  The 
Mexican  General  Reguena  promised  to  return  with  an 
answer  at  three  o'clock  but  failed  to  keep  his  word  ;  the 
time  of  his  mission  and  the  interval  allowed  for  his  an 
swer,  being  employed  by  Arista  in  throwing  the  public 
stores  into  the  river,  burying  artillery  in  wells,  and  con 
cealing  other  portions  of  the  public  property  in  and 
about  the  city.  In  the  evening,  General  Taylor,  finding 
that  no  answer  had  been  returned,  finished  his  prepara 
tions  for  crossing  early  in  the  morning,  while  Arista  re 
treated  from  the  city,  taking  with,  him  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  four  thousand  men,  and  leaving  behind  his 
sick  and  wounded. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  Captain  Bliss  had  an  inter 
view  with  the  prefect  of  the  town,  and  demanded  its 
surrender,  and  all  the  public  stores  therein.  The 
prefect  replied  to  the  demand  "that  General  Taylor 
could  march  Lis  troops  into  the  town  at  any  time  that 
might  suit  his  convenience. "  While  this  conversation 
was  going  on,  Colonel  Twiggs  was  crossing  with  his 
troops  above  the  town,  his  band  playing  "  Yankee  Doo 
dle."  The  other  troops  crossed  at  Matamoras,  and  the 
star-spangled  banner  speedily  waved  over  the  walls  of 
Fort  Paredes. 


THE    WAR.  57 

Description  of  Matamoras. 

The  best  description  of  the  taking  of  Matamoras  that 
has  yet  appeared  is  given  in  the  following  sketch,  by  an 
officer  of  the  army,  who  like  many  of  the  gallant  war 
riors  now  in  Mexico,  wields  a  pen  with  no  less  ability 
than  he  wears  his  sword.  He  says,  "We  reached  this 
point  on  the  25th  of  May.  The  country  through  which 
we  passed  was  lovely  in  the  extreme — being  as  level  as 
a  ball-room  floor,  and  full  of  little  chaparrals  and  mus- 
keet  groves.  Our  road,  though  not  exactly  following 
the  meanderings  of  the  river,  touched  its  banks  often 
enough  to  obtain  water  every  mile  or  two.  The  citizens 
were  friendly  to  us,  and  showed  little  displeasure  at  the 
invasion.  In  fact,  some  of  them  expressed  their  wish 
that  the  country  should  be  governed  by  Americans  or 
some  other  people,  that  would  guaranty  them  a  liberal 
or  stable  government,  so  much  had  they  been  annoyed 
by  the  internal  convulsions  of  their  own.  At  every  house 
we  found  three  or  four  men,  which  induced  me  to  be 
lieve  that  the  press-gang  had  met  with  very  poor  success 
among  them.  They  say  that  it  is  not  their  disposition 
to  play  the  soldier  at  any  time,  particularly  the  present, 
and  when  the  call  is  made  for  troops  they  leave  their 
homes  in  possession  of  the  women,  and  find  business  in 
the  chaparral.  They  are  a  happy,  simple  people,  whose 
aim  seems  to  be  to  make  provision  for  to-day,  leaving 
to-morrow  to  look  out  for  itself.  All  along  the  road 
they  were  found  waiting  with  milk,  a  sort  of  bread, 
which  they  call  tortillias,  cheese,  poloncas,  or  maple  sugar, 
and  a  sort  of  liquor  resembling,  in  looks  and  taste,  San 
Croix  rum.  We  paid  them  liberally  for  all  we  obtained, 
which  to  them  must  have  presented  a  strong  contrast  to 
the  Mexican  soldiery,  who  spread  dismay  and  devasta- 


58  THE    WAR. 

Description  of  Matamoras. 

tion  among  their  own  people  wherever  they  go.  It  seems 
to  have  been  the  desire  of  every  man  in  our  ranks  to 
make  the  line  of  disparity  between  the  American  and 
Mexican  soldier  as  palpable  as  possiMe ;  and  the  good 
effect  of  such  conduct,  if  not  immediately  developed, 
will  in  the  course  of  time  be  more  apparent.  Our  march 
was  very  heavy,  particularly  during  the  day  we  left  the 
Baritas,  and  some  of  our  young  men  were  very  much 
used  up.  Two  from  company  A  were  so  much  affected 
by  the  scorching  sun  as  to  be  unable  to  proceed  farther, 
and  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Mexican,  where  they  re 
ceived  the  utmost  kindness  and  attention  during  the 
night,  and  were  furnished  with  horses  in  the  morning  to 
catch  up  with  us. 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  we 
reached  the  town  of  Matamoras,  though  its  white  build 
ings,  so  different  from  those  we  had  passed  on  the  route, 
had  attracted  the  eyes  long  before  that  time.  There  was 
something  far  more  attractive  to  the  eye  than  the  white 
buildings  of  the  town — something  to  awaken  a  thrill  of 
pleasure  in  the  breasts  of  the  whole  regiment — the  stripes 
and  stars  were  majestically  floating  in  the  breeze  from 
the  highest  point  in  Matamoras,  and  between  the  river 
and  the  town  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  white  tents 
were  pitched  in  such  admirable  order  as  to  induce  the 
beholder  to  think  it  a  great  town. 

As  we  entered  the  town  at  the  east  end,  thousands  of 
people  sallied  out  of  their  houses  to  look  upon  us,  whose 
looks  more  bespoke  a  welcome  to  their  own  army  than 
to  that  of  the  invaders.  At  many  a  half-opened  door 
or  window  was  to  be  seen  the  head  of  a  senora,  whose 
timidity  or  modesty  (albeit  they  allow  so  little  to  the 


THE     W  A  R.  59 

Description  of  Mataruoras. 

Mexicans)  forbade  their  emerging  into  the  streets.  Some 
of  these  women  are  indeed  beautiful,  though  a  great 
majority  are  indolent,  slovenly,  and  destitute  of  that  fe 
male  delicacy  which  characterizes  our  own  women. 
Their  common  dress  is  a  white  muslin  skirt,  tied  quite 
loosely  around  the  body,  without  any  bodice ;  their 
chemise  being  the  only  covering  for  their  breasts,  in 
which  they  wear  their  jewelry  and  cross.  I  did  not  see 
one  pair  of  stockings  in  all  the  town.  From  this  style 
of  dressing  you  will  infer  that  pride  of  dress  gives  way 
to  comfort  and  ease,  and  that,  too,  in  a  greater  degree 
than  I  think  the  largest  liberty  would  warrant  them  in 
dulging  in.  I  went  into  a  house  yesterday  evening, 
occupied  by  an  old  man  and  two  daughters,  both  speak 
ing  a  sufficiency  of  English  to  be  understood.  After 
being  seated  for  a  few  moments,  the  eldest  of  the  daughters 
went  to  the  bed  and  brought  to  me  a  lovely  and  interest 
ing  child,  as  white  almost  as  any  of  our  own  people. 
She  informed  me  that  she  was  married  about  two  years 
ago  to  a  Texan  prisoner,  and  that  he  had  been  killed 
whilst  fighting  under  General  Taylor.  She  spoke  in  the 
highest  terms  of  her  deceased  lord,  and  seemed  to  wor 
ship  his  image  in  the  child.  She  is  a  lovely  creature, 
and,  I  think,  deeply  devoted  to  our  cause. 

Matamoras  is  a  much  handsomer  place  than  I  expected 
to  find  it.  It  covers  two  miles  square,  though  by  no 
means  as  compact  as  an  American  city — every  house  ex 
cept  those  around  the  public  square,  has  a  large  garden 
attached.  The  houses  in  the  business  part  of  the  town 
are  built  after  the  American  fashion,  though  seldom  ex 
ceeding  two  stories  in  height.  All  the  windows  to  these 
buildings  are  grated  from  top  to  bottom  with  iron  bars, 


60  THE     WAR. 


Description  of  Matamoxas. 


and  half  of  the  door  only  opens  for  admittance,  which 
gives  them  the  appearance  of  prisons  more  than  business 
houses.  The  public  square  is  in  the  centre  of  the  town, 
and  must  have  been  laid  off  by  an  American  or  Euro 
pean,  for  the  Mexicans  never  could  have  laid  it  out  with 
such  beauty  and  precision.  On  the  four  sides  of  the 
square,  the  houses  are  built  close  together,  as  in  block, 
and  are  of  the  same  size  and  height,  with  the  exception 
of  the  cathedral,  which,  though  unfinished,  still  towers 
above  the  others.  In  these  houses  are  sold  dry  goods, 
groceries,  and  every  kind  of  wares,  with  now  and  then 
an  exchange  or  coffee-house.  They  are  principally  oc 
cupied  by  Europeans,  and  you  can  hear  French,  English, 
Spanish,  and  German  spoken  at  the  same  time.  After 
leaving  the  public  square  on  either  side,  the  houses  de 
crease  in  size  and  beauty  for  two  or  three  squares,  when 
the  small  reed  and  thatched  huts  commence,  and  con 
tinue  to  the  extreme  limits  of  the  place. 

In  walking  through  the  streets,  my  attention  was  at 
tracted  to  a  house,  in  the  door  of  which  stood,  or  leaned, 
two  half-naked  Mexicans,  so  wobegone  as  to  cause  me 
to  halt.  On  my  nearing  the  door,  a  most  disagreeable 
stench  almost  induced  me  to  recede.  I  mustered  courage 
to  enter  the  door.  On  the  floor,  lying  upon  mats,  with 
out  covering,  were  near  fifty  Mexicans,  wounded  in  the 
late  engagements,  attended  by  some  ten  or  twelve  women. 
The  smell  of  the  place  was  insufferable,  and  I  had  to 
leave  it.  The  next  door  was  the  same,  and  so  on  for 
about  twenty  houses.  A  friend  of  mine  called  my  atten 
tion  to  a  room  in  which  there  were  at  least  forty  of  these 
miserable  objects,  and  this  room  was  scarcely  twelve 
feet  square.  There  was  not  positively  room  for  the  nurses 


THE     WAR.  61 


Colonel  Twiggs  governor  of  Mataraoras. 


to  attend  them.  Some  had  lost  a  leg,  others  an  arm, 
and  some  both  legs  and  arms.  I  noticed  one  who  will 
certainly  get  well,  whose  legs  were  shot  off  within  two 
or  three  inches  above  the  knees,  and  he  seemed  to  me 
to  have  a  greater  flow  of  spirits  than  some  who  had  only 
flesh  wounds.  I  said  to  him  that  had  his  wojinds  been 
made  by  a  Mexican  shot,  he  would  have  been  dead,  to 
which  he  replied,  '  The  American  shot  was  very  good — 
no  poisonous  copper  in  them!'  One  had  died  just  be 
fore  I  had  entered  the  room,  and  they  were  making  pre 
parations  to  carry  him  out.  He  had  been  shot  in  the 
mouth  by  a  rifle  ball,  which  passed  under  the  left  ear,  and 
he  had  lived  from  the  9th  up  to  this  time.  There  are 
between  three  hundred  and  fifty  and  four  hundred  of 
these  horrid  objects  in  this  place,  and  the  sight  of  them 
would  induce  many  a  stout  heart  to  lament  the  horrors 
of  wrar.  These  men  give  the  number  of  killed  and 
•wounded  on  the  9th  much  greater  than  the  Americans 
ever  claimed, — some  say  twelve  hundred,  and  some, 
fifteen  hundred, — but  enough  of  them." 

Colonel  Twiggs  was  appointed  governor  of  Matamo- 
ras,  and  immediately  afterwards  the  prefect  or  former 
governor  retired  in  disgust.  Don  Jesus  Cardenus,  for 
that  was  his  name,  appears  to  have  been  distinguished 
for  his  tyranny  and  his  hatred  to  foreigners.  The  only 
care  he  expressed  in  surrendering  the  city  was  whether 
could  retain  his  office;  the  privileges  or  interests  of 
the  citizens  beTTig,  matters  of  no  consequence  to  him. 

General  Taylor  issued  orders  to  his  men  to  respect 
strictly  the  private  property  of  the  citizens,  and  per 
mitted  the  latter  to  go  on  with  their  business  as  usual, 
prohibiting  only  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors.  "  The 


62  THE     WAR. 

Behaviour  of  our  army  after  victory. 

people  had  been  told,"  says  Captain  Henry,  in  his  Cam 
paign  Sketches,  "  they  would  be  persecuted  'for  con 
science'  sake ;'  that  we  would  tolerate  no  religion  but 
the  protestant;  and  their  priests  have  added  all  the  fuel 
to  the  flame  they  could  to  produce  the  impression  among 
these  poor,  ignorant  creatures  that  we  were  a  set  of 
savage  barbarians.  Our  acts,  both  civil  and  military, 
and  now  religious,  will  prove  the  contrary,  and  will 
open  their  eyes  to  the  magnitude  of  the  attempted  de 
ception. 

The  behaviour  of  our  army  after  the  victory  is  as 
highly  honourable  as  the  victories  themselves.  In  taking 
possession  of  Matamoras  we  have  not  interfered  with 
either  the  civil  or  religious  rights  of  the  inhabitants. 
Their  courts  of  justice  are  still  held,  the  most  perfect 
respect  is  paid  to  law  and  order,  and  every  infraction 
of  either  is  severely  punished.  The  army  instead  of 
entering  the  city  as  conquerors,  encamped  quietly  in  the 
suburbs.  Instead  of  taking  possession  of  their  houses 
for  our  men,  we  remain  under  miserable  canvass,  which 
affords  no  protection  from  the  storm,  and  scarcely  shade 
to  protect  the  soldier  from  the  noonday  sun.  Many 
have  no  tents,  and  yet,  under  these  circumstances  no 
building  is  occupied :  those  taken  for  storehouses  and 
public  offices  are  regularly  rented.  By  such  conduct  we 
have  restored  confidence  to  the  people ;  the  citizens 
mingle  freely  among  us,  walk  through  our  camp,  and 
feel  sure  of  protection.  Such  conduct  should  make  our 
countrymen  proud  of  their  army." 

On  the  day  following  the  taking  of  Matamoras,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Garland,  with  all  the  cavalry  of  the  army, 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dragoons  and  Rangers, 


THE     WAR.  63 

Pursuit  of  Arista. 


started  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  Mexicans,  with  orders 
to  harass  their  march,  and  to  capture  prisoners  and  bag 
gage.  He  succeeded  in  capturing  a  small  rear  party,  after 
a  skirmish,  in  which  two  Mexicans  were  killed  and 
twenty-two  taken  prisoners,  and  one  wagon  with  ammu 
nition  and  clothing  of  an  artillery  company.  The  army  of 
Arista  was  twenty-four  hours  in  advance  of  this  pursuing 
party,  retreating  in  good  order.  The  Americans  having 
stopped  at  a  ranche,  the  proprietor  asked  Captain  Gra 
ham,  with  some  appearance  of  astonishment,  whither 
they  were  going.  He  was  told  that  they  were  pursuing 
the  retreating  Mexican  army.  His  astonishment  was 
now  still  more  increased,  as  he  asserted  that  General 
Arista  had  stopped  at  his  house  on  the  night  before,  and 
had  informed  him  that  he  had  conquered  the  Americans, 
and  was  then  on  his  way  to  Mexico  to  bear  the  news. 
The  scarcity  of  water,  with  the  barrenness  of  the  coun 
try,  and  the  jaded  condition  of  the  horses,  compelled 
Colonel  Garland  to  return  on  the  22d,  and  his  pursuit 
of  Arista  closes  the  history  of  the  opening  of  the  war  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

Large  numbers  of  volunteers,  called  out  by  the  go 
vernment  to  reinforce  the  gallant  commander,  having 
arrived  on  the  Rio  Grande,  General  Taylor  determined 
to  move  forward  into  Mexico,  that  they  might  not  be 
come  dispirited  by  inaction.  He  despatched  Colonel 
Wilson  to  scour  the  country  in  advance,  and  if  possible 
to  capture  some  of  the  Mexican  towns  near  the  river. 
This  party  soon  got  possession  of  Mier,  Reynosa,  and 
Camargo.  The  last  named  town,  it  had  been  directed, 
should  be  entered  by  a  party  of  Texan  Rangers  from 
the  rear,  while  a  small  party  of  regulars  should  approach 


64  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

Taking  of  Camargo. 


it  in  front.  The  steamer  containing  the  regulars  was 
groping  along  at  night  a  little  south  of  the  town,  the 
pilot  being  altogether  ignorant  of  the  river,  and  the  com 
mander  equally  doubtful  as  to  his  reception  by  the  towns 
men.  A  light  was  seen  glimmering  on  shore.  The 
pilot  neared  it,  and  demanded  to  know  in  Spanish,  u  De 
quien  es  ese  rancho?" 

"  'Tis  my  rancho,"  answered  a  good  Yankee  voice 
from  out  the  chaparral.  "  'Tis  my  rancho,  and  who  has 
any  claims  against  it?" 

"If  you  are  an  American,  come  on  board." 

"  I  will  at  once,  soldier,"  said  a  stalwart  man,  stepping 
on  the  deck  of  the  steamer.  "  I  hail  you  in  these  parts, 
for  I  have  been  sleeping  out  some  dozen  nighis,  afraid 
of  the  treachery  of  the  Mexicans ;  not  that  I  fear  them 
in  a.  fair  fight,  of  a  dozen  or  more  at  me  at  once,  but  I 
could  not  stand  five  hundred." 

Here  was  an  enterprising  American,  full  of  patriotism, 
on  "  the  search  for  town  sites  on  the  Rio  Grande ;"  he 
knew  the  people  well,  and  ere  the  day  had  fairly  dawned, 
he  had  completed  all  the  preliminaries  of  the  surrender 
of  Camargo,  and  at  the  head  or  the  heel  of  our  troops, 
as  suited  his  humour  best,  he  entered  the  city.* 

Captain  Duncan  was  sent  forward  on  the  14th  of 
August,  with  a  small  command,  to  Seralvo,  sixty  miles 
above  Mier,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  reconnois- 
sance.  On  the  road,  half  way  to  Seralvo,  he  entered 
Punta  Aguada,  a  town  of  four  hundred  inhabitants,  said 
to  be  the  head-quarters  of  Canales,  and  in  which  Captain 
Duncan  expected  to  find  some  of  his  robber  band.  His 

*  Our  Army  at  Monterey. 


THE   WAR.  65 

Captain  Duncan's  adventure,  anl  Capture  of  Seralvo. 

force  was  divided,  marched  into  the  town  from  all  sides, 
and  met  in  the  centre,  without  alarming  the  people,  who 
were  now  found  to  be  engaged  in  an  absorbing  fandango. 
The  consternation  caused  by  the  entrance  of  the  Rangers 
into  the  ball-room,  can  be  better  imagined  than  de 
scribed.  The  gallant  captain,  however,  ordered  the 
music  to  proceed,  led  off  the  dance  with  the  belle  of  the 
room,  and  then,  bidding  them  adieu,  gained  quiet  pos 
session  of  Seralvo  before  daybreak. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  General  Taylor  having  learned 
the  nature  of  the  route  from  Captain  Duncan,  organized 
the  regular  army,  and  ordered  General  Worth  to  take  up 
the  line  of  march  for  Seralvo  on  the  next  day. 

The  first  division  of  the  army,  commanded  by  Gene 
ral  Twiggs,  consisted  of  the  second  dragoons,  first, 
second,  third,  and  fourth  regiments  of  infantry,  and 
Bragg's  and  Ridgely's  artillery.  The  second  division, 
under  General  Worth,  consisted  of  the  artillery  battalion 
serving  as  infantry,  the  fifth,  seventh,  and  eighth  infantry, 
Duncan's  battery,  and  Captain  Blanchard's  Louisiana 
volunteers. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  General  Taylor  moved  to  join 
the  advance  under  General  Worth  at  Seralvo,  leaving 
General  Patterson  in  command  at  Camargo.  At  Seralvo 
it  was  first  learned  definitely  that  Ampudia  had  arrived 
at  Monterey  with  a  large  force,  and  that  the  city  was 
perfectly  fortified,  and  would  make  a  stout  defense. 
The  march  to  Monterey  was  now  arranged  in  every  par 
ticular.  Major-General  Butler  arrived,  and  the  volun 
teer  division  was  concentrated  in  the  vicinity  of  Seralvo. 
It  was  composed  of  the  first  Mississippi  regiment,  under 
Colonel  Jefferson  Davis,  the  first  Tennessee,  under 


66  THE    WAR. 

Arrangements  of  Forces. 


Colonel  Campbell,  the  first  Ohio,  under  Colonel  A.  M. 
Mitchell,  the  Baltimore  battalion,  under  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  W.  H.  Watson.  On  the  llth  September,  the  fol 
lowing  order  was  issued : 

"  1.  As  the  army  may  expect  to  meet  resistance  in  the 
further  advance  towards  Monterey,  it  is  necessary  that 
its  march  should  be  conducted  with  all  proper  precau 
tion  to  meet  attack  and  secuir  the  baggage  and  supplies. 

From  this  point,  the  following  will  be  the  order  of 
march,  until  otherwise  directed: 

2.  All  the  pioneers  of  the  army  consolidated  into  one 
party,  will  march  early  to-morrow  on  the  route  to  Marin, 
for  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  roads,  and  rendering  it 
practicable  for  artillery  and  wagons.     The  pioneers  of 
each  division  will  be  under  a  subaltern,  to  be  especially 
detailed  for  the  duty,  and  the  whole  be  under  command 
of  Captain   Craig,   third   infantry,   who  will   report   to 
head-quarters  for  instructions.     This  pioneer  party  will 
be  covered  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons,   and  Captain 
McCulloch's    company  of  Rangers.      Two   officers  of 
topographical    engineers,   to    be    detailed   by   Captain 
Williams,  will  accompany  the  party  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  the  route.     Two  wagons  will  be  provided  by 
the  quartermaster's  department  for  the  transportation  of 
the  tools,  provisions,  and  knapsacks  of  the  pioneer  party. 

3.  The  first  division  will  march  on  the  13th  instant, 
to  be  followed  on  successive  days  by  the  second  divi 
sion  and  field  division  of  volunteers.    The  head-quarters 
will  march  with  the  first  division.     Captain  Gillespie, 
with  half  of  his  company,  will  report  to  Major-General 
Butler;   the  other  half,  under   the  first   lieutenant,  to 
Brigadier-General  Worth.     These  detachments  will  be 


THE    WAR.  67 

Arrangements  of  Forces. 

employed  for  outposts  and  videttes,  and  as  expresses 
between  the  columns  and  head-quarters. 

4.  The  subsistence  supplies  will  be  divided  between 
the  three  columns,  the  senior  commissary  of  each  di 
vision  receipting  for  the  stores  and  being  charged  with 
their  care  and  management.     The  senior  commissaries 
of  divisions  will  report  to  Captain  Waggaman  for  this 
duty. 

5.  Each  division  will  be  followed  immediately  by  its 
baggage  train  and  supply  train,  with  a  strong  rear-guard. 
The  ordnance  train  under  Captain  Ramsay  will  march 
with  the  second  division,  between  its  baggage  and  sup 
ply  train,  and  will  come  under  the  protection  of  the 
guard  of  that  division.     The  medical  supplies  will,  in 
like  manner,  march  with  the  first  division. 

6.  The  troops  will  take  eight  days'  rations  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition.     All  surplus  arms  and  accoutre 
ments,  resulting  from  casualties  on  the  road,  will  be  de 
posited  with  Lieutenant  Stewart,  left  in  charge  of  the 
depot  at  this  place,  who  will  give  certificates  of  deposit 
to  the  company  commanders. 

7.  The  wagons    appropriated   for   transportation   of 
water,  will  not  be  required,  and  will  be  turned  over  to 
the  quartermaster's  department  for  general  purposes. 

8.  Two  companies  of  the  Mississippi  regiment  will  be 
designated  for  the  garrison  of  this  place.     All  sick  and 
disabled  men,  unfit  for  the  march,  will  be  left  behind, 
under  charge  of  a  medical  officer  to  be  selected  for  this 
duty  by  the  medical  director." 

The  first  division  accordingly  took  up  the  line  of 
march  on  the  13th,  the  army  finding  the  Mexican  gene 
ral,  Torrejon,  with  a  large  cavalry  force  constantly  in 


68  THE    WAR. 


Arrival  of  General  Henderson,  with  Texas  troops. 

their  vicinity.  On  the  14th  General  Ampudia  issued 
from  Monterey  an  address  to  his  soldiers — in  which 
he  promised  them  certain  victory,  and  volunteered  for 
them  the  assurance  to  the  government  that  they  were 
worthy  sons  of  the  immortal  Hidalgo,  Morelo,  Iturbide, 
and  others  who  knew  how  to  die  combating  for  the  in 
dependence  of  their  cherished  country."  On  the  fol 
lowing  day  he  issued  another  address,  holding  out 
inducements  to  General  Taylor's  troops  to  desert.  On 
the  16th  and  17th  the  army  was  concentrated  at  Marin, 
and  rested  there  from  the  fatiguing  march.  The  Spanish 
consul  at  Monterey  sent  a  messenger  to  General  Taylor 
to  know  if  the  property  of  foreigners  would  be  respected. 
General  Taylor  informed  him  that  he  would  be  responsi 
ble  for  nothing  in  case  the  town  was  taken  by  an  assault. 
On  the  18th  the  army  resumed  its  march,  and  reached 
the  town  of  San  Francisco.  On  this  day  General  Hen 
derson  joined  General  Taylor  with  Wood's  and  Hays' 
regiment  of  mounted  Texans,  which  numbered  eleven 
hundred  men.  The  old  padre  of  the-  village  of  San 
Francisco  informed  General  Taylor  that  the  most  deter 
mined  opposition  would  be  made  at  Monterey,  General 
Ampudia  having  determined  only  to  surrender  the  city 
with  his  life. 

On  the  19th  of  September  the  army  reached  the  vici 
nity  of  Monterey.  The  troops  marched  in  order  of  bat 
tle;  first  General  Taylor  and  staff,  with  a  number  of 
officers ;  then  followed  the  advanced  guard,  McCulloch's 
and  Gillespie's  rangers.  The  brigade  of  General  Hen 
derson  came  next ;  then  the  first  division  under  General 
Twiggs,  and  the  second  under  General  Worth,  and 
lastly  the  volunteer  division  under  General  Butler.  We 


THE    WAR.  71 


Account  of  arrival  at  Monterey. 


give  an  extract  respe  ting  the  arrival  at  Monterey,  from 
Mr.  Thorpe's  valuable  work,  "  Our  Army  at  Monterey." 

11  The  beautiful  grove  of  St.  Domingo  was  passed, 
when  the  city  burst  upon  the  sight  in  all  its  splendour. 
The  mists  still  clung  around  the  turrets  of  its  churches, 
and  enveloped  its  commanding  heights ;  but  the  ascend 
ing  sun  constantly  dissipated  the  veil,  until  palace  and 
hill,  barricade  and  fort,  with  long  lines  of  tents  and 
pendent  flags  presented  themselves,  as  if  floating  in  the 
pure  ether  with  which  they  were  surrounded.  All  was 
silent ;  not  a  breath  of  air  stirred ;  dewy  softness  rested 
upon  every  thing.  Suddenly  a  hot  sulphurous  smoke 
rose  quickly  from  one  of  the  bastions  of  the  citadel,  a 
heavy  cannon-shot  cleared  the  air  with  its  hissing  sound, 
and  long  before  its  booming  sound  was  heard,  two  more 
in  quick  succession  followed ;  one  of  the  deadly  missiles 
ricochetted  directly  over  General  Taylor's  head,  and, 
just  beyond  him,  ploughed  deeply  in  the  earth. 

A  cry  of  exultation  followed  from  those  who  witnessed 
it,  which  was  taken  up  by  the  long  lines  of  advancing 
troops,  until  it  was  carried  miles  in  the  rear,  the  shouts 
mingling  strangely  with  the  ten  thousand  echoes  that 
were  awakened  among  the  mountains,  by  the  firing  of 
the  heavy  artillery  that  announced  that  the  battle  of 
Monterey  had  begun. 

The  first  division  accelerated  its  speed,  and  quickly 
arrived  where  General  Taylor  had  halted,  when  it  formed 
into  order  of  battle ;  while  this  was  being  done,  the 
gallant  chieftain,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  coolly,  through 
his  glass,  examined  the  defenses  of  the  city,  when  orders 
were  issued  for  the  army  to  encamp  at  the  beautiful  grove 
of  St.  Domingo,  so  recently  passed. 


72  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

The  attack  upon  Monterey  was  arranged  to  be  made 
by  two  divisions  of  the  army,  acting  separately  and  in 
dependently.  General  Taylor,  assisted  by  General  But 
ler,  commanded  that  directed  against  the  city  itself 
while  General  Worth  was  detached  to  storm  the  Bishop's 
Palace,  and  the  other  forts  outside  of  Monterey. 

For  the  account  of  the  conduct  and  achievements  of 
the  division  under  General  Taylor,  we  have  his  own 
despatch,  clear,  succinct,  and  satisfactory,  as  are  all  the 
papers  he  has  written  concerning  his  operations. 

"  SIR  : — I  have  now  the  honour  to  submit  a  detailed 
report  of  the  recent  operations  before  Monterey,  result 
ing  in  the  capitulation  of  that  city. 

The  information  received  on  the  route  from  Seralvo, 
and  particularly  the  continual  appearance  in  our  front 
of  the  Mexican  cavalry,  which  had  a  slight  skirmish 
with  our  advance  at  the  village  of  Ramas,  induced  the 
belief,  as  we  approached  Monterey,  that  the  enemy 
would  defend  that  place.  Upon  reaching  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  the  city  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of 
September,  this  belief  was  fully  confirmed.  It  was 
ascertained  that  he  occupied  the  town  in  force ;  that  a 
large  work  had  been  constructed  commanding  all  the 
northern  approaches  ;  and  that  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and 
some  heights  in  its  vicinity  near  the  Saltillo  road,  had 
also  been  fortified,  and  occupied  with  troops  and  artil 
lery.  It  was  known,  from  information  previously  re 
ceived,  that  the  eastern  approaches  were  commanded 
by  several  small  works  in  the  lower  edge  of  the  city. 

The  configuration  of  the  heights  and  gorges  in  the 
direction  of  the  Saltillo  road,  as  visible  from  the  point 
attained  by  our  advance  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  led 


THE    WAR.  75 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

me  to  suspect  that  it  was  practicable  to  turn  all  the 
works  in  that  direction,  and  thus  cut  off  the  enemy's 
line  of  communication.  After  establishing  my  camp  at 
the  '  Walnut  Springs,'  three  miles  from  Monterey,  the 
nearest  suitable  position,  it  was,  accordingly,  my  first 
care  to  order  a  close  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  in 
question,  which  was  executed  on  the  evening  of  the 
19th,  by  the  engineer  officers  under  the  direction  of 
Major  Mansfield.  A  reconnoissance  of  the  eastern  ap 
proaches  was  at  the  same  time  made  by  Captain  Wil 
liams,  topographical  engineer.  The  examination  made 
by  Major  Mansfield  proved  the  entire  practicability  of 
throwing  forward  a  column  to  the  Saltillo  road,  and  thus 
turning  the  position  of  the  enemy.  Deeming  this  to  be 
an  operation  of  essential  importance,  orders  were  given 
to  Brevet  Brigadier- General  Worth,  commanding  the 
second  division,  to  march  with  his  command  on  the 
20th  ;  to  turn  the  hill  of  the  Bishop's  Palace  :  to  occupy 
a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road,  and  to  carry  the  enemy's 
detached  works  in  that  quarter,  where  practicable.  The 
first  regiment  ef  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Hays,  was  associated  with  the  second 
division  on  this  service.  Captain  Sanders,  engineers, 
and  Lieutenant  Meade,  topographical  engineers,  were 
also  ordered  to  report  to  General  Worth  for  duty  with 
his  column. 

At  two  o'clock  p.  M.  on  the  20th,  the  2d  division  took 
up  its  march.  It  was  soon  discovered,  by  officers  who 
were  reconnoitering  the  town,  and  communicated  to 
General  Worth,  that  its  movement  had  been  perceived, 
and  that  the  enemy  was  throwing  reinforcements  towards 
the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  the  height  which  commands  it. 


76  THE     WAR. 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

To  divert  his  attention  as  far  as  practicable,  the  1st 
division,  under  Brigadier- General  Twiggs,  and  field 
division  of  volunteers,  under  Major-General  Butler,  were 
displayed  in  front  of  the  town  until  dark.  Arrange 
ments  were  made  at  the  same  time  to  place  in  battery, 
during  the  night,  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the  enemy's 
main  work,  the  citadel,  two  twenty-four-pound  howit 
zers,  and  a  ten-inch  mortar,  with  a  view  to  open  a  fire 
on  the  following  day,  when  I  proposed  to  make  a  diver 
sion  in  favour  of  General  Worth's  movement.  The  4th 
infantry  covered  this  battery  during  the  night.  General 
Worth  had  in  the  mean  time  reached  and  occupied,  for 
the  night,  a  defensive  position  just  without  range  of  a 
battery  above  the  Bishop's  Palace,  having  made  a  re- 
connoissance  as  far  as  the  Saltillo  road. 

Before  proceeding  to  report  the  operations  of  the  21st 
and  the  following  days,  I  beg  leave  to  state  that  I  shall 
mention  in  detail  only  those  which  were  conducted 
against  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  city,  or  elsewhere, 
under  my  immediate  direction,  referring  you  for  the 
particulars  of  General  Worth's  operations,  which  were 
entirely  detached,  to  his  own  full  report  transmitted 
herewith. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  I  received  a  note 
from  General  Worth,  written  at  half  past  nine  o'clock 
the  night  before,  suggesting  what  I  had  already  intended, 
a  strong  diversion  against  the  centre  and  left  of  the  town, 
to  favour  his  enterprise  against  the  heights  in  rear. 
The  infantry  and  artillery  of  the  1st  division,  and  the 
field  division  of  volunteers,  were  ordered  under  arms, 
and  took  the  direction  of  the  city,  leaving  one  company 
of  each  regiment  as  a  camp  guard.  The  second  dra- 


THE     WAR.  77 


General  Taylor's  despatch. 


goons,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  and  Colonel 
Woods'  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under 
the  immediate  direction  of  General  Henderson,  were 
directed  to  the  right  to  support  General  Worth,  if  ne 
cessary,  and  to  make  an  impression,  if  practicable,  upon 
the  upper  quarter  of  the  city.  Upon  approaching  the 
mortar  battery,  the  1st  and  3d  regftnents  of  infantry,  and 
battalion  of  Baltimore  and  Washington  volunteers,  with 
Captain  Bragg's  field  battery — the  whole  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland — were  directed 
towards  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  with  orders  to  make 
a  strong  demonstration,  and  carry  one  of  the  enemy's 
advanced  works,  if  it  could  be  done  without  too  heavy 
loss.  Major  Mansfield,  engineers,  and  Captain  Wil 
liams  and  Lieutenant  Pope,  topographical  engineers, 
accompanied  this  column,  Major  Mansfield  being  charged 
with  its  direction,  and  the  designation  of  points  of  attack. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  mortar,  served  by  Captain  Ram 
say,  of  the  ordnance,  and  the  howitzer  battery  under 
Captain  Webster,  1st  artillery,  had  opened  their  fire 
upon  the  citadel,  which  was  deliberately  sustained,  and 
answered  from  the  work.  General  Butler's  division 
had  now  taken  up  a  position  in  rear  of  this  battery,  when 
the  discharges  of  artillery,  mingled  finally  with  a  rapid 
fire  of  small  arms,  showed  that  Lieutenant  Garland's 
command  had  become  warmly  engaged.  I  now  deemed 
it  necessary  to  support  this  attack,  and  accordingly 
ordered  the  4th  infantry,  and  three  regiments  of  Gene 
ral  Butler's  division,  to  march  at  once,  by  the  left  flank, 
in  the  direction  of  the  advanced  work  at  the  lower  ex 
tremity  of  the  town,  leaving  one  regiment  (1st  Ken 
tucky)  to  cover  the  mortar  and  howitzer  battery.  By 


78  THE    WAR. 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

some  mistake,  two  companies  of  the  4th  infantry  did 
not  receive  this  order,  and,  consequently,  did  not  join 
the  advance  companies  until  some  time  afterwards. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland's  command  had  ap 
proached  the  town  in  a  direction  to  the  right  of  the  ad 
vanced  work  (No.  1,)  at  the  north-eastern  angle  of  the 
city,  and  the  engineer  officer,  covered  by  skirmishers, 
had  succeeded  in  entering  the  suburbs  and  gaining 
cover.  The  remainder  of  this  command  now  advanced 
and  entered  the  town  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  from 
the  citadel  and  the  works  on  the  left,  and  of  musketry 
from  the  houses  and  small  works  in  front.  A  movement 
to  the  right  was  attempted,  with  a  view  to  gain  the  rear 
of  No.  1,  and  carry  that  work,  but  the  troops  were  so 
much  exposed  to  a  fire  which  they  could  not  effectually 
return,  and  had  already  sustained  such  severe  loss,  par 
ticularly  in  officers,  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  withdraw 
them  to  a  more  secure  position.  Captain  Backus,  1st 
infantry,  however,  with  a  portion  of  his  own  and  other 
companies,  had  gained  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  which 
looked  directly  into  the  gorge  of  No.  1,  and  from  which 
he  poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into  that  work  and 
upon  the  strong  building  in  its  rear.  This  fire  happily  co 
incided  in  point  of  time  with  the  advance  of  a  portion 
of  the  volunteer  division  upon  No.  1,  and  contributed 
largely  to  the  fall  of  that  strong  and  important  work. 

The  three  regiments  of  the  volunteer  division,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major-General  Butler,  had 
in  the  mean  time  advanced  in  the  direction  of  No.  1. 
The  leading  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  Quitman, 
continued  its  advance  upon  that  work,  preceded  by 
three  companies  of  the  4th  infantry,  while  General  But- 


THE    WAR.  79 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

ler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regiment,  entered  the  town  to  the 
right.  The  companies  of  the  4th  infantry  had  advanced 
within  short  range  of  the  work,  when  they  were  received 
by  a  fire  that  almost  in  one  moment  struck  down  one- 
third  of  the  officers  and  men,  and  rendered  it  necessary 
to  retire  and  effect  a  conjunction  with  the  two  other 
companies  then  advancing.  General  Quitman's  brigade, 
though  suffering  most  severely,  particularly  in  the  Ten 
nessee  regiment,  continued  its  advance,  and  finally  car 
ried  the  work  in  handsome  style,  as  well  as  the  strong 
building  in  its  rear.  Five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  consi 
derable  supply  of  ammunition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  in 
cluding  three  officers,  fell  into  our  hands. 

Major-General  Butler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regiment, 
after  entering  the  edge  of  the  town,  discovered  that  no 
thing  was  to  fee  accomplished  in  his  front,  and  at  this 
point,  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  several  officers,  I 
ordered  a  retrograde  movement ;  but  learning  almost 
immediately  from  one  of  my  staff,  that  the  battery  No. 
1  was  in  our  possession,  the  order  was  countermanded, 
and  I  determined  to  hold  the  battery  and  defenses  al 
ready  gained.  General  Butler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regi 
ment,  then  entered  the  town  at  a  point  farther  to  the 
left,  and  marched  in  the  direction  of  the  battery  No.  2. 
While  making  an  examination  with  a  view  to  ascertain 
the  possibility  of  carrying  this  second  work  by  storm, 
the  general  was  wounded  and  soon  after  compelled  to 
quit  the  field.  As  the  strength  of  No.  2,  and  the  heavy 
musketry  fire  flanking  the  approach,  rendered  it  im 
possible  to  carry  it  without  great  loss,  the  1st  Ohio  regi 
ment  was  withdrawn  from  the  town. 

Fragments  of  the  various  regiments  engaged  were 


80  THE    WAR. 

General  Taylor's  despatch.. 

now  under  cover  of  the  captured  battery  and  some 
buildings  in  its  front  and  on  the  right.  The  field  bat 
tery  of  Captains  Bragg  and  Ridgely  was  also  partially 
covered  by  the  battery.  An  incessant  fire  was  kept  on 
this  position  from  battery  No.  2,  and  other  works  on  its 
right,  and  from  the  citadel  on  all  our  approaches.  Gene 
ral  Twiggs,  though  quite  unwell,  joined  me  at  this  point, 
and  was  instrumental  in  causing  the  artillery  captured 
from  the  enemy  to  be  placed  in  battery,  and  served  by 
Captain  Ridgely,  against  No.  2,  until  the  arrival  of 
Captain  Webster's  howitzer  battery,  which  took  its  place. 
In  the  mean  time,  I  directed  such  men  as  could  be  col 
lected  of  the  1st,  3d,  and  4th  regiments  and  Baltimore 
battalion,  to  enter  the  town,  penetrating  to  the  right, 
and  carry  the  second  battery  if  possible.  This  com 
mand,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland,  advanced 
beyond  the  bridge  'Purisima,'  when,  finding  it  im 
practicable  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  second  battery,  a 
portion  of  it  sustained  themselves  for  some  time  in  that 
advanced  position;  but  as  no  permanent  impression 
could  be  made  at  that  point,  and  the  main  object  of  the 
general  operation  had  been  effected,  the  command,  in 
cluding  a  section  of  Captain  Ridgely's  battery,  which 
had  joined  it,  was  withdrawn  to  battery  No.  1.  During 
the  absence  of  this  column,  a  demonstration  of  cavalry 
was  reported  in  the  direction  of  the  citadel.  Captain 
Bragg,  who  was  at  hand,  immediately  galloped  ,vith  his 
battery  to  a  suitable  position,  from  which  a  few  dis 
charges  effectually  dispersed  the  enemy.  Captain  Mil 
ler,  1st  infantry,  was  despatched  with  a  mixed  command 
to  support  the  battery  on  this  service.  The  enemy's 
lancers  had  previously  charged  upon  the  Ohio  and  a  part 


THE     WAR.  81 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

of  the  Mississippi  regiments,  near  some  fields  at  a  dis 
tance  from  the  edge  of  the  town,  and  had  been  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss.  A  demonstration  of  cavalry  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was  also  dispersed  in  the 
course  of  Jie  afternoon  by  Captain  Ridgely's  battery, 
and  the  squadrons  returned  to  the  city.  At  the  ap 
proach  of  evening  all  the  troops  that  had  been  engaged 
were  ordered  back  to  the  camp,  except  Captain  Ridgely's 
battery  and  the  regular  infantry  of  the  first  division,  who 
were  detailed  as  a  guard  for  the  works  during  the  night, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland.  One 
battalion  of  the  1st  Kentucky  regiment  was  ordered  to 
reinforce  this  command.  Intrenching  tools  were  pro 
cured,  and  additional  strength  was  given  to  the  works, 
and  protection  to  the  men,  by  working-parties  during 
the  night,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Scarritt, 
engineers. 

The  main  object  proposed  in  the  morning  had  been 
effected.  A  powerful  diversion  had  been  made  to  favour 
the  operations  of  the  2d  division,  one  of  the  enemy's, 
advanced  works  had  been  carried,  and  we  now  had  a 
strong  foot-hold  in  the  town.  But  this  had  not  been 
accomplished  without  a  very  heavy  loss,  embracing 
some  of  our  most  gallant  and  accomplished  officers. 
Captain  Williams,  topographical  engineers;  Lieute 
nants  Terrett  and  Dilworth,  1st  infantry;  Lieutenant 
Woods,  2d  infantry ;  Captains  Morris  and  Field,  Brevet- 
Major  Barbour,  Lieutenants  Irwin  and  Hazlitt,  3d  in- 
i'antry;  Lieutenant  Hoskins,  4th  infantry;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Watson,  Baltimore  battalion;  Captain  Allen 
and  Lieutenant  Putnam,  Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Hett,  Ohio  regiment,  were  killed,  or  have  since 

4* 


82  THE    WAR. 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

died  of  wounds  received  in  this  engagement,  while  the 
'number  and  rank  of  the  officers  wounded  gives  addi 
tional  proof  of  the  obstinacy  of  the  contest,  and  the  good 
conduct  of  our  troops.  The  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  incident  to  the  operations  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  city  on  the  21st  is  394. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  this  day  (21st)  the  advance 
of  the  2d  division  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force, 
and  after  a  brief  but  sharp  conflict,  repulsed  him  with 
heavy  loss.  General  Worth  then  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road,  thus  cutting  the  enemy's 
line  of  communication.  From  this  position  the  two 
heights  south  of  the  Saltillo  road  were  carried  in  succes 
sion,  and  the  guns  taken  in  one  of  them  turned  upon 
the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  important  successes  were 
fortunately  obtained  with  comparatively  small  loss : 
Captain  McKavett,  8th  infantry,  being  the  only  officer 
killed. 

The  22d  day  of  September  passed  without  any  active 
operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  The  citadel 
and  other  works  continued  to  fire  at  parties  exposed  to 
their  range,  and  at  the  work  now  occupied  by  our  troops. 
The  guard  left  in  it  the  preceding  night,  except  Captain 
Ridgely's  company,  was  relieved  at  midday  by  General 
Quitman's  brigade.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  was  thrown 
under  cover  in  front  of  the  town,  to  repel  any  demon 
stration  of  cavalry  in  that  quarter.  At  dawn  of  day  the 
height  above  the  Bishop's  Palace  was  carried,  and  soon 
after  meridian  the  palace  itself  was  taken,  and  its  guns 
turned  upon  the  fugitive  garrison.  The  object  for  which 
the  2d  division  was  detached  had  thus  been  completely 
accomplished,  and  I  felt  confident  that  with  a  strong 


THE    WAR.  83 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

force  occupying  the  road  and  heights  in  his  rear,  and  a 
good  position  below  the  city  in  our  possession,  the  enemy 
could  not  possibly  maintain  the  town. 

During  the  night  of  the  22d  the  enemy  evacuated 
nearly  all  his  defenses  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
This  was  reported  to  me  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  by  General  Quitman,  who  had  already  meditated 
an  assault  upon  those  works.  I  immediately  sent  in 
structions  to  that  officer,  leaving  it  to  his  discretion  to 
enter  the  city,  covering  his  men  by  the  houses  and  wallaj 
and  advance  carefully  so  far  as  he  might  deem  prudent. 

After  ordering  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  a  re 
serve,  under  the  orders  of  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  I 
repaired  to  the  abandoned  works,  and  discovered  that 
a  portion  of  General  Quitman's  brigade  had  entered  the 
town,  and  were  successfully  forcing  their  way  towards 
the  principal  plaza.  I  then  ordered  up  the  2d  regiment 
of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  who  entered  the  city,  dis 
mounted,  and,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  General 
Henderson,  co-operated  with  General  Quitman's  brigade. 
Captain  Bragg's  battery  was  also  ordered  up,  supported 
by  the  3d  infantry,  and  after  firing  for  some  time  at  the 
cathedral,  a  portion  of  it  was  likewise  thrown  into  the 
city.  Our  troops  advanced  from  house  to  house,  and 
from  square  to  square,  until  they  reached  a  street  but  one 
square  in  rear  of  the  principal  plaza,  in  and  near  which 
the  enemy's  force  was  mainly  concentrated.  This  ad 
vance  was  conducted  vigorously,  but  with  due  caution, 
and  although  destructive  to  the  enemy,  was  attended 
with  but  small  loss  on  our  part.  Captain  Ridgely,  in 
the  mean  time,  had  served  a  captured  piece  in  battery 
No.  1  against  the  city,  until  the  advance  of  our  men 


84  THE    WAR. 

General  Taylor's  despatch. 

rendered  it  imprudent  to  fire  in  the  direction  of  the 
cathedral.  I  was  now  satisfied  that  we  could  operate 
successfully  in  the  city,  and  that  the  enemy  had  retired 
from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to  make  a  stand  behind  his 
barricades.  As  General  Quitman's  brigade  had  been  on 
duty  the  previous  night,  I  determined  to  withdraw  the 
troops  to  the  evacuated  works,  and  concert  with  General 
Worth  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town.  The  troops 
accordingly  fell  back  deliberately  in  good  order,  and 
resumed  their  original  positions,  General  Quitman's 
brigade  being  relieved  after  nightfall  by  that  of  General 
Hamer.  On  my  return  to  camp  I  met  an  officer  with 
the  intelligence  that  General  Worth,  induced  by  the 
firing  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  was  about  making 
an  attack  at  the  upper  extremity,  which  had  also  been 
evacuated  by  the  enemy  to  a  considerable  distance.  I 
regreted  that  this  information  had  not  reached  me  before 
leaving  the  city,  but  still  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  change 
my  orders,  and  accordingly  returned  to  camp.  A  note 
from  General  Worth,  written  at  eleven  o'clock  p.  M.,  in 
formed  me  that  he  had  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  principal  plaza,  and  that  the  mortar  (which  had 
been  sent  to  his  division  in  the  morning)  was  doing  good 
execution  within  effective  range  of  the  enemy's  position. 

Desiring  to  make  no  farther  attempt  upon  the  city 
without  complete  concert  as  to  the  lines  and  mode  of 
approach,  I  instructed  that  officer  to  suspend  his  advance 
until  I  could  have  an  interview  with  him  on  the  fol- 
low.ng  morning,  at  his  head-quarters. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th  I  received  through 
Colonel  Moreno,  a  communication  from  General  Am- 
pudia,  proposing  to  evacuate  the  town  ;  which,  with  the 


T  H  K    W  A  R.  85 

Operations  of  General  Worth 

answer,  were  forwarded  with  my  first  despatch.  I  ar 
ranged  with  Colonel  Moreno  a  cessation  of  fire  until 
twelve  o'clock,  at  which  hour  I  would  receive  the  an 
swer  of  the  Mexican  general  at  General  Worth's  head 
quarters,  to  which  I  soon  repaired.  In  the  mean  time, 
General  Ampudia  had  signified  to  General  Worth  his 
desire  for  a  personal  interview  with  me,  to  which  I 
acceded,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  a  capitulation, 
placing  the  town  and  materiel  of  war,  with  certain  ex 
ceptions,  in  our  possession. 

For  the  operations  of  General  Worth,  we  have  the 
following  account  by  an  intelligent  eye  witness. 

"  At  two  P.  M.  of  the  20th,  General  Worth  marched 
from  the  camp,  east  of  the  town,  in  the  direction  of  the 
heights  west,  McCulloch's  and  Gillespie's  companies  of 
rangers  forming  the  reconnoitering  party.  At  night,  the 
division  bivouacked  almost  within  range  of  the  guns 
stationed  upon  the  highest  point  of  the  hill  on  which  the 
Bishop's  Palace  is  situated.  At  daylight  of  the  21st, 
the  column  was  again  in  morion,  and  in  a  few  moments, 
was  turning  the  point  of  a  ridge,  which  protruded  out 
toward  the  enemy's  guns,  bringing  us  as  near  to  them 
as  their  gunners  could  desire.  They  immediately  opened 
upon  the  column  with  a  howitzer  and  twelve-pounder, 
firing  shell  and  round-shot  as  fast  as  they  could  discharge 
their  pieces. 

The  road  now  wound  in  toward  a  gorge,  but  not 
far  enough  to  be  out  of  range  of  their  guns,  which  still 
played  upon  us.  Another  ridge  lay  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  beyond  the  first,  around  the  termination  of 
which  the  road  wound,  bringing  it  under  the  lofty  sum 
mit  of  a  height  which  rises  between  Palace  Hill  and  the 


86  T  H  E     W  A  R. 

Operations  of  General  Worth. 

mountains,  which  arise  over  us  on  the  west,  When  the 
head  of  the  column  approached  this  ridge,  a  body  of 
Mexican  cavalry  came  dashing  around  that  point  to 
charge  upon  our  advance.  Captain  Gillespie  immedi 
ately  ordered  his  men  to  dismount  and  place  themselves 
in  ambush.  The  enemy  evidently  did  not  perceive  this 
manoeuver ;  but  the  moment  they  came  up,  the  Texans 
opened  upon  them  a  most  destructive  fire,  unsaddling  a 
number  of  them.  McCulloch's  company  now  dashed 
into  them.  Captain  C.  F.  Smith's  camp,  and  Captain 
Scott's  camp  of  artillery,  (acting  as  infantry,)  and  Lieu 
tenant  Longstreet's  company  of  the  eighth  infantry,  with 
another  company  of  the  same  regiment,  likewise  charged 
upon  the  enemy.  The  Texan  horsemen  were  soon 
engaged  with  them  in  a  sort  of  hand-to-hand  skirmish, 
in  which  a  number  of  them  fell,  and  one  Texan  was 
killed  and  two  wounded. 

Colonel  Duncan  now  opened  upon  them  with  his 
battery  of  light  artillery,  pouring  a  few  discharges  of 
grape  upon  them,  and  scattering  them  like  chaff.  Seve 
ral  men  and  horses  fell  under  this  destructive  fire.  I 
saw  one  horse  and  rider  bound  some  feet  into  the  air, 
and  both  fell  dead  and  tumbled  down  the  steep.  The 
foot  companies  above  named  then  rushed  up  the  steep, 
and  fired  over  the  ridge  at  the  retreating  enemy,  a  con 
siderable  body  of  whom  were  concealed  from  our  view, 
around  the  point  of  the  hill.  About  thirty  of  the  enemy 
were  killed  in  this  skirmish,  and  among  them  a  captain, 
who,  with  two  or  three  others,  fell  in  the  road.  The 
captain  was  wounded  in  three  places,  the  last  shot  hitting 
him  in  the  forehead. "  He  fought  gallantly  to  the  last, 
and  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  learn  his  name. 


THE     WAR.  89 


Operations  of  General  Worth.. 


The  light  batteries,  one  of  which  is  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Mackall,  were  now  driven  upon  the  slope  of 
the  ridge,  and  the  howitzers  opened  upon  the  height  of 
Palace  Hill.  A  few  shots  only  were  thrown,  before  the 
enemy  commenced  firing  with  a  nine-pounder  from  the 
height  immediately  over  the  right  of  the  column,  aiming 
at  Duncan's  batteries.  The  several  regiments  took  posi 
tions,  and  a  few  more  shells  were  thrown  towards  Palace 
Hill,  but  did  no  execution.  The  nine-pounder  continued 
to  throw  its  shot  with  great  precision  at  our  batteries,  one 
ball  falling  directly  in  the  midst  of  the  pieces,  but,  for 
tunately,  hitting  neither  men  nor  guns.  Finding  his  bat 
teries  thus  exposed,  and  unable  to  effect  any  thing, 
Colonel  Duncan  removed  his  command  to  a  rancho  about 
half  a  mile  farther  up  the  Saltillo  road,  where  General 
Worth  took  up  his  position,  after  ordering  the  foot  regi 
ments  to  form  along  the  fence  near  the  point  of  the  ridge. 
The  artillery  battalion,  5th,  7th,  and  8th  infantry,  and 
the  Louisiana  volunteers,  remained  in  this  position  about 
two  hours,  directly  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns.  The 
balls  fell  directly  in  their  midst  all  this  time  without 
wounding  a  man  !  To  begin  with,  the  Mexicans  manage 
their  artillery  in  battery  as  well  as  the  Americans  do — 
this,  I  believe,  is  now  conceded  by  every  officer. 

At  half- past  ten,  the  column  moved  towards  the 
general's  position.  At  this  time,  Captain  McKavett  of 
the  8th  infantry,  was  shot  through  the  heart  by  a  nine- 
pound  ball,  and  a  private  of  the  5th  infantry  was  severely 
wouniled  in  the  thigh,  and  he  died  the  next  morning. 
About  fifty  Mexicans  now  appeared  upon  the  side  hill 
over  the  moving  column,  and  fired  at  our  troops  some 
hundred  musket-shot,  without  doing  any  harm.  The 


90  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

Operations  of  General  Worth. 

division  deployed  into  the  position  pointed  out,  and 
remained  an  hour  or  two,  when  Captain  C.  F.  Smith  of 
the  artillery  battalion,  with  his  own  company,  and  Cap 
tain  Scott's,  together  with  four  companies  of  Texan 
Ranereis  on  foot,  were  ordered  to  storm  the  second 

O  ' 

height.  This  the  gallant  officer  cheerfully  undertook, 
and  was  followed  with  enthusiasm  by  the  officers  and 
men  of  his  command.  It  was  considered  on  all  sides  to 
be  a  dangerous  undertaking,  and  his  party  was  regarded 
most  emphatically  as  a  forlorn  hope.  That  the  height 
would  be  taken  no  one  doubted,  but  that  many  brave 
fellows  would  fall  in  the  attempt  seemed  inevitable. 
The  distance  to  be  climbed,  after  reaching  the  foot  of 
the  hill,  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile ;  a  part  of  the 
way  almost  perpendicular,  through  thorn-bushes  and  over 
sharp-pointed  rocks  and  loose  sliding  stones. 

The  7th  infantry  commanded  by  Captain  Miles,  was 
ordered  to  support  Captain  Smith's  party,  and  by  march 
ing  directly  to  the  foot  of  the  height,  arrived  before  Cap 
tain  Smith,  who  had  been  ordered  to  take  a  circuitous 
route.  Captain  Miles  sent  up  Lieutenant  Gantt,  with  a 
detachment  of  men  upon  the  hill-side,  to  divert  the 
attention  of  the  enemy  from  Captain  Smith's  command, 
which  could  not  yet  be  seen.  The  7th  had  already 
sustained  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  and  round-shot,  as  they 
forded  the  San  Juan,  which  winds  round  the  foot  of  the 
height,  and  which  fell  like  a  shower  of  hail  in  their 
ranks  without  killing  a  man.  Lieutenant  Gantt's  party 
were  greeted  with  grape  and  round-shot,  which  cut  the 
shrubs,  and  tore  up  the  loose  stones  about  the  ranks, 
without  killing  any  one ;  but  the  gallant  young  officer 
came  within  an  inch  of  being  killed  by  a  cannon-shot, 


TOE    WAR.  91 

Operations  of  General  Worth. 

which  ran  down  the  steep  and  filled  his  face  with  frag 
ments  of  rock,  dust,  and  gravel.  The  fire  was  accom 
panied  by  a  constant  discharge  of  musketry,  the  enemy 
covering  the  upper  part  of  the  hill-side  ;  but  the  detach 
ment  continued  to  move  up,  driving  the  Mexicans  back, 
until  they  were  recalled. 

Captain  Smith's  party  now  arrived  and  moved  up  the 
hill,  the  rangers  in  advance,  and  did  not  halt  for  an  in 
stant  until  the  Mexicans  were  driven  from  the  summit. 
Whilst  this  was  going  on,  Colonel  Persifer  F.  Smith,  who 
commanded  the  5th  and  7th  infantry — the  5th  with 
Blanchard's  Louisiana  boys,  under  Major  Martin  Scott, 
had  been  ordered  to  support  the  whole — gave  orders 
for  these  commands  to  pass  around  on  each  side  and 
storm  the  fort,  which  was  situated  about  half  a  mile  back 
of  the  summit  on  the  same  ridge  and  commanded  the 
Bishop's  Palace.  Such  a  foot-race  as  now  ensued  has 
seldom  '.r  ever  been  seen ;  the  Louisiana  boys  making  tre 
mendous  strides  to  be  in  with  the  foremost.  Captain  Smith 
had  the  gun  which  he  took  upon  the  height,  run  towards 
the  breast- works,  and  fired  into  it.  Then  came  Colonel  P. 
F.  Smith's  men,  with  a  perfect  rush,  firing  and  cheering — 
the  5th  and  7th,  and  Louisianians,  reaching  the  ridge 
above  nearly  at  the  same  time.  The  Mexicans  fired  at  us 
with  grape,  but  it  did  not  cause  an  instant's  hesitation  in 
our  ranks.  Our  men  ran  and  fired,  and  cheered  until  they 
reached  the  work,  the  foremost  entering  at  one  end 
while  the  Mexicans,  about  a  thousand  in  number,  left 
the  other  in  retreat.  The  colours  of  the  5th  infantry 
were  instantly  raised,  and  scarcely  were  they  up  before 
those  of  the  7th  were  alongside.  The  three  commands 
entered  the  fort  together — so  close  was  the  race — the  5th 


92  T  H  E    W  A  R. 

Opera cions  of  General  Worth. 

a  little  in  advance.  J.  W.  Miller,  of  Blanchard's  com 
pany,  was  among  the  first  four  or  five  who  entered.  The 
three  commands  may  be  said  to  have  come  out  ( ven  in 
the  race,  for  the  7th  was  not  five  seconds  behind.  In 
less  than  five  minutes  the  gun  found  in  the  fort  was 
thundering  away  at  the  Bishop's  Palace. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  Colonel  Childs  of  the 
artillery  battalion,  with  three  of  his  companies — one 
commanded  by  Captain  Vinton,  another  by  Captain  J. 
B.  Scott,  and  the  third  by  Lieutenant  Ayres — and  three 
companies  of  the  8th  infantry — company  A,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Longstreet  and  Wainright ;  company  B, 
by  Lieutenant  Halloway  and  Merchant ;  company  D,  by 
Captain  Schrivner  and  Lieutenant  Montgomery — was 
ordered  to  take  the  summit  of  Palace  Hill. 

The  colonel  left  the  camp  at  three  o'clock  A.M.,  and 
climbed  the  mountain  through  the  chaparral,  and  up  the 
steep  rocks,  with  such  secrecy,  that  at  daybreak  he  was 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  breastwork  of  sandbags 
before  he  \vas  discovered.  Three  of  the  artillerymen 
having  rushed  ahead  too  fast,  found  themselves  in  the 
hands  of  the  Mexicans.  They  surrendered,  and  were 
shot  down  with  the  very  pieces  they  had  given  up.  I 
saw  the  poor  fellows  lying  there. 

Colonel  Staniford  \vent  up  at  daylight  with  the  balance 
of  the  8th,  and  Major  Scott  led  up  the  5th.  The  Louis 
iana  troops  were  on  the  hill,  with  the  5th,  at  8  A.M.  One 
of  Duncan's  howitzers,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Row 
land,  was  dragged  up,  or  rather  lifted  up,  and  opened 
on  the  palace,  which  was  filled  with  troops.  The  Mexi 
cans  charged  on  the  howitzer,  but  were  driven  back. 
A.  constant  firing  was  kept  up  for  several  hours,  particu- 


THE    WAR.  95 

Operations  of  General  Worth. 

larly  by  BlancharcPs  men,  who  left  a  dozen  Mexicans 
dea  d  upon  the  hill-side.  At  length  a  charge  was  ordered, 
and  our  men  rushed  down  upon  the  palace,  entered  a 
hole  in  a  door  that  had  been  blocked  up,  but  opened 
by  the  howitzer,  and  soon  cleared  the  work  of  the  few 
Mexicans  who  remained.  Lieutenant  Ayres  was  the 
lucky  one  who  first  reached  the  halyards  and  lowered 
the  flag.  One  eighteen-pound  brass  piece,  a  beautiful 
article,  manufactured  in  Liverpool  in  1842,  and  a  short 
brass  twelve-pound  howitzer,  were  captured,  with  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition,  and  some  musketr  and  lances. 

The  fort  adjoining  the  palace  walls  is  not  complete, 
but  is  very  neatly  constructed  as  far  as  it  is  built.  The 
killed  on  our  side,  in  taking  the  palace,  were  seven — 
wounded,  twelve.  _  Lieutenant  Wainright  was  wounded 
in  the  side  and  arm  by  a  musket-ball.  Colonel  Childs, 
Captain  Vinton,  Captain  Blanchard,  Lieutenant  Long- 
street,  Lieutenant  Clark,  (adjutant  of  the  8th,)  Lieute 
nant  Ayres,  Lieutenant  McCown,  and  the  two  Nicholls, 
seem  to  have  been  the  heroes  of  the  day.  The  two  lat 
ter  performed  prodigies,  and  not  only  Judge  Nicholls, 
but  old  Louisiana  may  well  be  proud  of  such  sons.  The 
Mexicans  lost  at  least  thirty  killed. 

Yesterday  morning  the  whole  division  under  Gene 
ral  Worth  entered  the  town  on  this  side,  and  have  been 
fighting  there  ever  since.  The  heart  of  the  city  is 
nothing  but  one  fortification,  the  thick  walls  being 
pierced  for  muskets  and  cannon,  and  placed  so  as  to 
rake  the  principal  streets.  The  roofs  being  flat,  and 
the  front  walls  rising  three  or  four  feet  above  the  roof, 
of  course  every  street  has  a  line  of  breastworks  on  each 
side.  A  ten-inch  mortar  came  around  from  General 


96  THE    WAR. 


Proposals  for  the  surrender  of  Monterey. 


Taylor  last  evening,  and  it  is  now  placed  in  the  largest 
plaza,  to  which  our  troops  have  fought  step  by  step  and 
from  house  to  house.  Duncan's  batteries  are  in  town, 
and  the  present  impression  is  that  the  place  will  soon 
be  taken.  General  Worth  has  gained  all  the  strong 
holds  that  command  the  city,  and  has  pushed  the  enemy 
as  far  as  they  can  go  without  falling  into  General  Tay 
lor's  hands  on  the  other  side  of  the  city.  All  this  has 
been  done  with  the  loss  of  only  about  seventy  killed 
and  wounded." 

At  noon  on  the  22d,  while  the  American  troops  were 
closely  engaged  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  General 
Taylor  received  by  a  flag  a  communication  from  the 
governor  of  the  state  of  New  Leon,  asking  him  to  grant 
a  sufficient  time  for  the  inhabitants  to  leave  the  city ; 
which  General  Taylor  declined.  Early  on  the  morning 
of  the  24th,  a  flag  was  received  from  the  town,  bear 
ing  a  communication  from  General  Ampudia,  proposing 
an  evacuation  of  the  city  and  fort,  with  all  the  personel 
and  materiel  of  war.  General  Taylor,  in  reply,  declined 
the  proposition,  and  demanded  a  complete  surrender 
of  the  town  and  garrison,  offering  in  consideration  of 
the  gallant  defense  that  had  been  made,  to  allow  the 
garrison  to  retire  to  the  interior  after  laying  down  its 
arms,  on  condition  of  not  serving  again  during  the  war. 
A  cessation  of  hostilities,  until  twelve  o'clock,  was  ar 
ranged. 

Before  that  hour,  however,  General  Ampudia  had 
signified  to  General  Worth  his  desire  for  a  personal 
interview  with  General  Taylor,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
some  definitive  arrangement.  An  interview  was  accord 
ingly  appointed  for  one  o'clock,  and  resulted  in  the 


THE    WAR.  97 


Terms  of  capitulation. 


naming  of  a  commission  to  draw  up  articles  of  agree 
ment  regulating  the  withdrawal  of  the  Mexican  forces, 
find  a  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  commis 
sioners  named  by  the  Mexican  general-in-chief  were 
Generals  Ortega  and  Requena,  and  Don  Emanuel  M. 
Llano,  governor  of  New  Leon.  Those  named  on  the 
American  side  were  General  Worth,  General  Henderson, 
governor  of  Texas,  and  Colonel  Davis,  Mississippi 
volunteers. 

This  commission  finally  settled  upon  the  articles  of 
capitulation.  The  details  of  the  negotiations  are  reserved 
as  part  of  the  personal  history  of  the  commissioners, 
and  will  be  found  in  another  place. 

By  the  terms  of  capitulation,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
Mexican  officers  should  retain  their  side  arms,  and  the 
infantry  and  cavalry  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  the 
artillery  one  field  battery  of  six  pieces  ;  that,  surrender 
ing  the  city,  fortifications,  cannon,  munitions  of  war,  and 
public  stores,  to  General  Taylor,  they  should  evacuate 
the  city  and  retire,  within  seven  days,  beyond  the  line 
formed  by  the  pass  of  Rinconada,  the  city  of  Linares, 
and  San  Fernando  de  Presas ;  and  that  this  line  should 
not  be  crossed  by  the  Americans  before  the  expiration 
of  eight  weeks,  unless  the  respective  governments  should 
refuse  to  ratify  the  terms  of  this  truce. 

Monterey  and  its  fortifications  were  armed  with  forty- 
two  pieces  of  cannon,  well  supplied  with  ammunition, 
and  manned  with  a  force  of  at  least  seven  thousand 
troops  of  the  line,  and  from  two  to  three  thousand  irre 
gulars.  The  force  under  General  Taylor  was  four  hun 
dred  and  twenty-five  officers,  and  six  thousand  two 
hundred  and  twenty  men.  Our  artillery  consisted  of 

5 


98  THE    WAR. 


Bravery  of  the  American,  troops. 


one  ten-inch  mortar,  two  twenty-four-pound  howitzers, 
and  four  light  field  batteries  of  four  guns  each — the 
mortar  being  the  only  piece  suited  to  the  operations  of 
a  siege.  The  American  loss  was  twelve  officers  and 
one  hundred  eight  men  killed,  thirty-one  officers  and 
three  hundred  and  thirty-seven  men  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  was  much  greater. 

The  storming  of  Monterey  requires  no  comment.  A 
city  surrounded  by  high  massive  walls  which  supported 
strong  redoubts,  with  every  street  swept  by  cross  fires 
of  artillery,  and  every  house  a  fortification  in  itself,  was 
attacked  and  carried  by  an  army  numbering  scarcely 
more  than  half  of  the  defenders,  inferior  in  artillery  and 
small  arms,  and  obliged  to  divide  its  small  force  to  resist 
the  cannonade  of  another  fortification,  the  Bishop's 
Palace,  nearly  as  strong  as  the  city  itself. 

Such  an  event  can  only  be  attributed  to  the  national 
coolness  and  intrepidity  of  the  assailants,  aided  by  their 
good  discipline,  the  example  of  their  officers  and  the 
unsurpassed  ability  of  their  commanding  general.  The 
glory  of  the  victors  at  Cuidad  Rodrigo  pales  before 
that  of  the  Americans  at  Monterey. 

The  troops  of  General  Taylor  proved  themselves  to 
be  possessed  of  a  still  higher  attribute  of  the  soldier  than 
the  most  fearless  bravery  :  the  finer  feelings  of  men  calm 
in  the  moment  of  victory,  and  possessed  of  minds  prin 
cipled  of  humanity,  which  the  most  desperate  resistance 
could  not  excite  to  a  single  deed  of  cruelty.  In  their 
retreat  from  Monterey,  the  enemy  destroyed  every  thing 
in  their  route  that  might  be  of  service  to  the  invading 
army.  The  water  streams  were  stopped  or  filled  up, 
the  wells  destroyed,  provisions  carefully  removed,  and 


THE    WAR. 

Paredes. 


99 


Paredes. 


even  private  property  ruthlessly  consumed  by  the  torch. 
Meanwhile,  they  made  every  effort  to  organize  a  new  army 
in  the  interior,  and  declared  that  the  loss  of  Monterey  was 
owing  only  to  the  incapacity  of  Ampudia,  who  was  ordered 
to  be  tried  by  court-martial.  General  Herrera  had  been 
president  of  Mexico  when  the  war  was  first  threatened, 
but  his  inclination  to  avoid  hostilities  had  caused  him  to 
be  deprived  of  power,  and  Paredes  assumed  the  reins  of 
government,  and  the  responsibility  of  the  war.  Being 
unsuccessful,  however,  he  lost  caste  with  his  countrymen, 
who  now  began  to  look  for  another  ruler.  Several  lead 
ers  presented  themselves,  each  at  the  head  of  a  small 


100  THE    WAH. 


Sants.  Anna  lands  at  Vera  Cruz. 


army,  and  each  breathing  implacable  hostility  to  the 
United  States.  In  the  mean  time  a  party  had  arisen 
favourable  to  the  recall  of  Santa  Anna,  who  had  been 
exiled  in  1844,  and  was  living  at  Havana.  A  pro 
clamation  was  issued  at  Mexico,  inviting  the  return  of 
all  Mexicans  faithful  to  their  country,  Santa  Anna  being 
named  as  one,  and  appointed  general-in-chief ;  and  call 
ing  for  a  meeting  of  a  congress  of  representatives  to  be 
chosen  according  to  the  repudiated  constitution  of  1824, 
under  wihich  Mexico  was  a  federal  republic,  similar  to 
that  of  the  United  States.  This  was  the  production  of 
General  Salas,  who  was  the  avowed  supporter  of  Santa 
Anna,  and  who  had  been  elevated  to  the  presidency. 

On  the  16th  of  August,  Santa  Anna  landed  at  Vera 
Cruz,  having  been  allowed  to  pass  the  American  block 
ading  squadron,  in  the  British  mail  steamer  Arab.  On 
the  14th  of  September,  when  he  had  reached  Ayotla, 
he  received  and  accepted  a  commission  appointing  him 
supreme  dictator.  On  the  next  day  he  entered  the  capital 
and  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of  joy  and 
confidence.  He  issued  a  proclamation  calling  upon  the 
people  to  support  him  in  defending  the  country.  The 
American  government  had  refused  to  sanction  the  con- 
ditioaal  armistice  of  eight  weeks,  provided  for  by  one 
of  t\ie  articles  of  capitulation  at  Monterey,  and  directed 
General  Taylor  to  resume  hostilities.  That  officer  there 
fore  addressed  a  letter  to  Santa  Anna  notifying  him  of 
the  renewal  of  hostilities,  and  making  a  request  for  the 
release  of  certain  prisoners  at  San  Luis  Potosi.  Santa 
Anna  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  the  letter  in  a  cour 
teous  and  dignified  manner,  acquiesced  in  the  conclusion 
of  the  armistice,  and  complied  in  a  liberal  manner  with 


THE    WAR. 


101 


Tayicr  marches  to  Victoria. 


Santa  Anna. 

the  request  concerning  the  prisoners.  He  soon  found 
himself  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men, 
who  regarded  him  as  invincible. 

Meanwhile,  the  Americans  were  not  idle.  General 
Worth  had  moved  with  fifteen  hundred  men  upon  Sal- 
tillo  and  taken  it,  and  Parras  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  General  Wool.  In  December,  General  Santa  Anna 
threatened  to  attack  the  American  forces  in  Saltillo,  and 
General  Urrea  was  reported  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Vic 
toria.  General  Taylor  marched  to  the  latter  place,  which 
he  reached  on  the  30th  of  December.  Here  he  received 


102  THE     W  A  K. 

Taylor's  address  to  his  soldiers. 

a  letter  from  General  Scott,  requesting  a  large  detach 
ment  of  his  troops,  which  was  to  increase  the  army 
destined  to  capture  Vera  Cruz.  No  soldier  could  feel 
more  keenly  than  General  Taylor  the  di  .appointment  to 
which  he  was  thus  subjected :  to  lose  the  veterans  who 
had  won  for  him  so  great  glory,  and  be  at  the  same  time 
reduced  from  a  victorious  position  to  one  of  comparative 
inaction.  Yet  he  cheerfully  obeyed  the  command.  At 
parting  with  his  troops  he  issued  the  following  address 
to  them : 

"It  is  with  deep  sensibility  that  the  commanding 
general  finds  himself  separated  from  the  troops  he  so  long 
commanded.  To  those  corps,  regular  and  volunteer, 
who  have  shared  with  him  the  active  services  of  the 
field,  he  feels  the  attachment  due  to  such  associations, 
while  to  those  who  are  making  their  first  campaign,  he 
must  express  his  regret  that  he  cannot  participate  with 
them  in  its  eventful  scenes.  To  all,  both  officers  and 
men,  he  extends  his  heartfelt  wishes  for  their  continued 
success  and  happiness,  confident  that  their  achievements 
on  another  theatre  will  redound  to  the  credit  of  their 
country  and  to  them." 

After  they  had  left  him,  he  again  established  his  head 
quarters  at  Monterey,  where  he  remained  until  February. 
In  that  month,  his  force  was  raised  to  nearly  five  thou 
sand,  by  the  arrival  of  a  considerable  number  of  volun 
teers.  He  then  marched  from  Monterey  to  Agua  Nueva, 
a  place  eighteen  miles  below  Saltillo. 

He  retired,  howrever,  on  the  approach  of  Santa  Anna, 
to  Buena  Vista,  a  strong  position  a  few  miles  south  of 
Saltillo.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  Santa  Anna,  on  the 
21st  of  February.  That  general  seems  to  have  been  for 


THE    WAR.  103 

Santa  Anna's  address. 


a  considerable  time  wavering  as  to  the  course  he  should 
pursue  ;  at  one  time  threatening  to  march  to  Vera  Cruz, 
then  turning  to  quell  an  insurrection  at  the  capital,  and 
again  maneuvering  in  the  vicinity  of  Saltillo.  At  length 
he  issued  an  address  to  his  companions  in  arms,  which 
contained  his  real  intentions.  We  quote  a  specimen 
of  it. 

"  Soldiers '  the  entire  world  observes  us,  and  will  ex 
pect  our  acts  to  be  heroic  as  they  are  necessary.  Pri 
vations  of  all  kinds  surround  us,  in  consequence  of  the 
neglect  shown  towards  us  for  more  than  a  month,  by 
those  who  should  provide  your  pay  and  provisions. 
But  when  has  misery  debilitated  your  spirits,  or  weak- 
your  enthusiasm  ?  The  Mexican  soldier  is  well  known 
by  his  frugality  and  patience  under  suffering,  never  want 
ing  magazines  in  marches  across  deserts,  and  always 
counting  upon  the  resources  of  the  enemy  to  provide 
for  his  wants.  To-day  we  shall  undertake  to  march 
over  a  desert  country,  without  succour  or  provisions. 
But  be  assured,  that  we  shall  be  immediately  provided 
from  those  of  the  enemy,  and  with  them  you  will  be 
sufficiently  reimbursed.  My  friends,  we  go  to  open  the 
campaign.  What  days  of  glory  await  us !  WTiat  a  flat 
tering  future  for  our  country !  How  satisfactory,  when 
we  contemplate  that  we  have  saved  its  independence ! 
How  the  world  will  admire  us !  How  the  nation  will 
bless  us '  'And  when  in  the  bosoms  of  our  families  we 
shall  relate  the  risks  and  fatigues  which  we  have  endured, 
the  combats  with  and  triumphs  over  a  daring  and  pre 
sumptuous  enemy ;  and  hereafter,  when  telling  our 
children  that  we  have  saved  our  country  a  second  time, 
the  jubilee  will  be  complete,  and  the  sacrifices  will  then 


104  THE   WAR. 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

appear  to  us  as  nothing.  Soldiers !  Hurry  forth  in  the 
defense  of  your  country.  The  cause  we  sustain  is  a 
holy  one  ;  never  have  we  struggled  with  more  justice, 
because  we  fight  for  the  honour  and  religion  of  our 
wives  and  children !  What  sacrifice,  then,  can  be  too 
great  for  objects  so  dear?  Let  our  motto  be — '  CONQUER 
OR  DIE!'  Let  us  swear  before  the  great  Eternal,  that 
we  will  not  wait  an  instant  in  purging  our  soil  of  the 
stranger,  who  has  dared  to  profane  it  with  his  presence. 
No  treaty,  nothing  which  may  not  be  heroic  and  proud." 

We  give  the  distinct  and  explicit  account  of  the  op- 
perations  which  followed,  from  the  official  report  of 
General  Taylor,  reserving,  as  before,  our  notices  of  in 
dividual  gallantry  for  another  portion  of  the  work. 

"  The  information  which  reached  me  of  the  advance 
and  concentration  of  a  heavy  Mexican  force  in  my  front, 
had  assumed  such  a  probable  form,  as  to  induce  a  spe 
cial  examination  far  beyond  the  reach  of  our  pickets,  to 
ascertain  its  correctness.  A  small  party  of  Texan  spies, 
under  Major  McCulloch,  despatched  to  the  hacienda  of 
Encarnacion,  thirty  miles  from  this,  on  the  route  to  San 
Luis  Potosi,  had  reported  a  cavalry  force  of  unknown 
strength  at  that  place.  On  the  20th  of  February,  a 
strong  reconnoissance  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May  was 
despatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Heclionda,  while  Major 
McCulloch  made  another  examination  of  Encarnacion. 
The  result  of  these  expeditions  left  no  doubt  that  the 
enemy  was  in  large  force  at  Encarnacion,  under  the 
orders  of  General  Santa  Anna,  and  that  he  meditated  a 
forward  movement  and  attack  upon  our  position 

As  the  camp  of  Agua  Nueva  could  be  turned  on  either 
flank,  and  as  the  enemy's  force  was  greatly  superior  to 


THE    WAR.  105 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

our  own,  particularly  in  the  arm  of  cavalry,  I  determined, 
after  much  consideration,  to  take  up  a  position  about 
eleven  miles  in  rear,  and  there  await  the  attack.  The 
army  broke  up  its  camp  and  marched  at  noon  on  the 
21st,  encamping  at  the  new  position  a  little  in  front  of 
the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista.  With  a  small  force  I  pro 
ceeded  to  Saltillo,  to  make  some  necessary  arrangements 
for  the  defense  of  the  town,  leaving  Brigadier-General 
Wool  in  the  immediate  command  of  the  troops. 

Before  those  arrangements  were  completed,  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemy  was 
in  sight,  advancing.  Upon  reaching  the  ground  it  was 
found  that  his  cavalry  advance  was  in  our  front,  having 
marched  from  Encarnacion,  as  we  have  since  learned, 
at  eleven  o'clock  on  the  day  previous,  and  driving  in  a 
mounted  force  left  at  Agua  Nueva  to  cover  the  removal 
of  public  stores.  Our  troops  were  in  position,  occupy 
ing  a  line  of  remarkable  strength.  The  road  at  this 
point  becomes  a  narrow  defile,  the  valley  on  its  right 
being  rendered  quite  impracticable  for  artillery  by  a  sys 
tem  of  deep  and  impassable  gullies,  while  on  the  left  a 
succession  of  rugged  ridges  and  precipitous  ravines  ex 
tends  far  back  toward  the  mountain  which  bounds  the 
valley.  The  features  of  the  ground  were  such  as  nearly 
to  paralyze  the  artillery  and  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  while 
his  infantry  could  not  derive  all  the  advantage  of  its 
numerical  superiority.  In  this  position  we  prepared  to 
receive  him.  Captain  Washington's  battery  (4th  artil 
lery)  was  posted  to  command  the  road,  while  the  1st 
and  2d  Illinois  regiments,  under  Colonels  Hardin  and 
Bissell,  each  eight  companies,  (to  the  latter  of  which  was 
attached  Captain  Conner's  company  of  Texas  volun- 

5* 


106  THE    WARj 


Battle  of  Buena  Vista.. 


teers,)  and  the  2d  Kentucky,  under  Colonel  MeKee, 
occupied  the  crests  of  the  ridges  on  the  left  and  in  rear. 
The  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  regiments  of  cavalry,  com 
manded  by  Colonels  Yell  and  H.  Marshall,  occupied  the 
extreme  left  near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  while  the 
Indiana  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  Lane,  (com 
posed  of  the  2d  and  3d  regiments,  under  Colonels  Bowles 
and  Lane,)  the  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Da 
vis,  the  squadrons  of  the  1st  and  2d  dragoons,  under 
Captain  Steen  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  and  the 
light  batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg,  3d  artil 
lery,  were  held  in  reserve. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  a  summons  to  surrender  at  dis 
cretion  was  received  from  General  Santa  Anna,  which 
was  declined.  The  enemy  still  forebore  his  attack,  evi 
dently  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  his  rear  columns,  which 
could  be  distinctly  seen  by  our  look-outs  as  they  ap 
proached  the  field.  A  demonstration  made  on  his  left 
caused  me  to  detach  the  2d  Kentucky  regiment  and  a 
section  of  our  artillery  to  our  right,  in  which  position 
they  bivouacked  for  the  night.  In  the  mean  time  the 
Mexican  light  troops  had  engaged  ours  on  the  extreme 
left,  (composed  of  parts  of  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas 
cavalry  dismounted,  and  a  rifle  battalion  from  the  Indi 
ana  brigade,  under  Major  Gorman,  the  whole  commanded 
by  Colonel  Marshall,)  and  kept  up  a  sharp  fire,  climbing 
the  mountain  side,  and  apparently  endeavouring  to  gain 
our  flank.  Three  pieces  of  Captain  Washington's  battery 
had  been  detached  to  the  left,  and  were  supported  by  the 
2d  Indiana  regiment.  An  occasional  shell  was  thrown 
by  the  enemy  into  this  part  of  our  line,  but  without 
effect.  The  skirmishing  of  the  light  troops  was  kept  up 


THE    WAR.  109 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

with  trifling  loss  on  our  part  until  dark,  when  I  became 
c  onvinced  that  no  serious  attack  would  be  made  before 
morning,  and  returned,  with  the  Mississippi  regiment 
and  squadron  of  2d  dragoons,  to  Saltillo.  The  troops 
bivouacked  without  fires,  and  lay  upon  their  arms.  A 
body  of  cavalry,  some  fifteen  hundred  strong,  had  been 
visible  all  day  in  rear  of  the  town,  having  entered  the 
valley  through  a  narrow  pass  east  of  the  city.  This 
cavalry,  commanded  by  General  Minon,  had  evidently 
been  thrown  in  our  rear  to  break  up  and  harass  our  re 
treat,  and  perhaps  make  some  attempt  against  the  town 
if  practicable.  The  city  was  occupied  by  four  excel 
lent  companies  of  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Major  War 
ren,  of  the  1st  regiment.  A  field-work,  which  com 
manded  most  of  the  approaches,  was  garrisoned  by 
Captain  Webster's  company,  1st  artillery,  and  armed 
with  two  twenty- four-pound  howitzers,  \vhile  the  train 
and  head-quarter  camp  was  guarded  by  two  companies 
of  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Captain  Rogers,  and  a 
field-piece  commanded  by  Captain  Shover,  3d  artillery. 
Having  made  these  dispositions  for  the  protection  of 
the  rear,  I  proceeded  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  to 
Buena  Vista,  ordering  forward  all  the  other  available 
troops.  The  action  had  commenced  before  my  arrival 
on  the  field. 

During  the  evening  and  night  of  the  22d,  the  enemy 
had  thrown  a  body  of  light  troops  on  the  mountain  side, 
with  the  purpose  of  outflanking  our  left ;  and  it  was 
here  that  the  action  of  the  23d  commenced  at  an  early 
hour.  Our  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Marshall,  who  had 
been  reinforced  by  three  companies  under  Major  Trail, 
2d  Illinois  volunteers,  maintained  their  ground  hand- 


110  THE    WAR. 


Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 


somely  against  a  greatly  superior  force,  holding  them 
selves  under  cover,  and  using  their  weapons  with  deadly 
effect.  About  eight  o'clock,  a  strong  demonstration 
was  made  against  the  centre  of  our  position,  a  heavy 
column  moving  along  the  road.  This  force  was  soon 
dispersed  by  a  few  rapid  and  well-directed  shots  from 
Captain  Washington's  battery.  In  the  mean  time  the 
enemy  was  concentrating  a  large  force  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  under  cover  of  the  ridges,  with  the  obvious  inten 
tion  of  forcing  our  left,  which  was  posted  on  an  exten 
sive  plateau.  The  2d  Indiana  and  2d  Illinois  regiments 
formed  this  part  of  our  line,  the  former  covering  three 
pieces  of  light  artillery,  under  the  orders  of  Captain 
O'Brien — Brigadier- General  Lane  being  in  the  imme 
diate  command.  In  order  to  bring  his  men  within 
effective  range,  General  Lane  ordered  the  artillery  and 
3d  Indiana  regiment  forward.  The  artillery  advanced 
within  musket  range  of  a  heavy  body  of  Mexican  infan 
try,  and  was  served  against  it  with  ^reat  effect,  but 
without  being  able  to  check  its  advance.  The  infantry 
ordered  to  its  support  had  fallen  back  in  disorder,  being 
exposed,  as  well  as  the  battery,  not  only  to  a  severe 
fire  of  small-arms  from  the  front,  but  also  to  a  murderous 
cross-fire  of  grape  and  canister  from  a  Mexican  battery 
on  the  left.  Captain  O'Brien  found  it  impossible  to 
retain  his  position  without  support,  but  was  only  able 
to  withdraw  two  of  his  pieces,  all  the  horses  and  can 
noneers  of  the  third  piece  being  killed  or  disabled. 
The  2d  Indiana  regiment,  which  had  fallen  back  as 
stated,  could  not  be  rallied,  and  took  no  farther  part  in 
the  action,  except  a  handful  of  men,  who,  under  its 
gallant  colonel,  Bowles,  joined  the  Mississippi  regiment, 


THE    WAR.  Ill 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor.  ^ 

and  did  good  service,  and  those  fugitives  who,  at  a  later 
period  in  the  day,  assisted  in  defending  the  train  and 
depot  at  Buena  Vista.  This  portion  of  our  line  having 
given  way,  and  the  enemy  appearing  in  overwhelming 
force  against  our  left  flank,  the  light  troops  which  had 
rendered  such  good  service  on  the  mountain  were  com 
pelled  to  withdraw,  which  they  did,  for  the  most  part, 
in  good  order.  Many,  however,  were  not  rallied  until 
they  reached  the  depot  at  Buena  Vista,  to  the  defense 
of  which  they  afterward  contributed. 

Colonel  Bissel's  regiment,  (2d  Illinois,)  which  had 
been  joined  by  a  section  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery, 
had  become  completely  outflanked,  and  was  compelled 
to  fall  back,  being  entirely  unsupported.  The  enemy 
was  now  pouring  masses  of  infantry  and  cavalry  along 
the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our  left,  and  was  gaining 
our  rear  in  great  force.  At  this  moment  I  arrived  upon 
the  field.  The  Mississippi  regiment  had  been  directed 
to  the  left  before  reaching  the  position,  and  immediately 
came  into  action  against  the  Mexican  infantry  which 
had  turned  our  flank.  The  2d  Kentucky  regiment  and 
a  section  of  artillery  under  Captain  Bragg,  had  previ 
ously  been  ordered  from  the  right  to  reinforce  our  left, 
and  arrived  at  a  most  opportune  moment.  That  regi 
ment,  and  a  portion  of  the  1st  Illinois,  under  Colonel 
Hardin,  gallantly  drove  the  enemy,  and  recovered  a 
portion  of  the  ground  we  had  lost.  The  batteries  of 
Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg  were  in  position  on  the 
plateau,  and  did  much  execution,  not  only  in  front,  but 
particularly  upon  the  masses  which  had  gained  our  rear. 
Discovering  that  the  enemy  wras  heavily  pressing  upon 
the  Mississippi  regiment,  the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under 


112  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 


Colonel  Lane,  was  despatched  to  strengthen  that  part 
of  our  line,  which  formed  a  crotchet  perpendicular  to 
the  first  line  of  battle.  At  the  same  time  Lieutenant 
Kilburn,  with  a  piece  of  Captain  Bragg's  battery,  was 
directed  to  support  the  infantry  there  engaged.  The 
action  was  for  a  long  time  warmly  sustained  at  that 
point — the  enemy  making  several  efforts  both  with  in 
fantry  and  cavalry  against  our  line,  and  being  always 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  I  had  placed  all  the  regular 
cavalry  and  Captain  Pike's  squadron  of  Arkansas  horse 
under  the  orders  of  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  May, 
with  directions  to  hold  in  check  the  enemy's  column, 
still  advancing  to  the  rear  along  the  base  of  the  moun 
tain,  which  was  done  in  conjunction  with  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell. 
In  the  mean  time  our  left,  which  was  still  strongly 
threatened  by  a  superior  force,  was  farther  strengthened 
by  the  detachment  of  Captain  Bragg's  and  a  portion  of 
Captain  Sherman's  batteries  to  that  quarter.  The  con 
centration  of  artillery  fire  upon  the  masses  of  the  enemy 
along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  the  determined 
resistance  offered  by  the  two  regiments  opposed  to  them, 
had  created  confusion  in  their  ranks,  and  some  of  the 
corps  attempted  to  effect  a  retreat  upon  their  main  line 
of  battle.  The  squadron  of  the  1st  dragoons,  under 
Lieutenant  Rucker,  was  now  ordered  up  the  deep  ravine 
which  these  retreating  corps  were  endeavouring  to  cross, 
in  order  to  charge  and  disperse  them.  The  squadron 
proceeded  to  the  point  indicated,  but  could  not  accom 
plish  the  object,  being  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire  from  a 
cattery  established  to  cover  the  retreat  of  those  corps. 
While  the  squadron  was  detached  on  this  service,  a 


THE    WAR.  113 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

large  body  of  the  enemy  was  observed  to  concentrate 
on  our  extreme  left,  apparently  with  the  view  of  making 
a  descent  upon  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  where  oui 
train  and  baggage  were  deposited.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
May  was  ordered  to  the  support  of  that  point,  with  two 
pieces  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery  under  Lieutenant 
Reynolds.  In  the  mean  time,  the  scattered  forces  near 
the  hacienda,  composed  in  part  of  Majors  Trail  and 
Gorman's  commands,  had  been  to  some  extent  organ 
ized  under  the  advice  of  Major  Munroe,  chief  of  artil 
lery,  with  the  assistance  of  Major  Morrison,  volunteer 
staff,  and  were  posted  to  defend  the  position.  Before 
our  cavalry  had  reached  the  hacienda,  that  of  the  enemy 
had  made  its  attack ;  having  been  handsomely  met  by 
the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonels 
Marshall  and  Yell.  The  Mexican  column  immediately 
divided,  one  portion  sweeping  by  the  depot,  where  it 
received  a  destructive  fire  from  the  force  which  had 
collected  there,  and  then  gaining  the  mountain  opposite, 
under  a  fire  from  Lieutenant  Reynolds'  section,  the 
remaining  portion  regaining  the  base  of  the  mountain 
on  our  left.  In  the  charge  at  Buena  Vista,  Colonel  Yell 
fell  gallantly  at  the  head  of  his  regiment ;  we  also  lost 
Adjutant  Vaughan,  of  the  Kentucky  cavalry — a  young 
officer  of  much  promise.  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  who 
had  been  rejoined  by  the  squadron  of  the  1st  dragoons 
and  by  portions  of  the  Arkansas  and  Indiana  troops, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Roane  and  Major  Gorman, 
now  approached  the  base  of  the  mountain,  holding  in 
check  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  upon  whose  masses, 
crowded  in  the  narrow  gorges  and  ravines,  our  artillery 
was  doing  fearful  execution. 


114  THE    WAR. 


Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 


The  position  of  that  portion  of  the  Mexican  army 
which  had  gained  our  rear  was  now  very  critical,  and  it 
seemed  doubtful  whether  it  could  regain  the  main  body. 
At  this  moment  I  received  from  General  Santa  Anna  a 
message  by  a  staff  officer,  desiring  to  know  what  I 
wanted.  I  immediately  despatched  Brigadier-General 
Wool  to  the  Mexican  general-in-chief,  and  sent  orders 
to  cease  firing.  Upon  reaching  the  Mexican  lines, 
General  Wool  could  not  cause  the  enemy  to  cease  their 
fire,  and  accordingly  returned  without  having  an  inter 
view.  The  extreme  right  of  the  enemy  continued  its 
retreat  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  finally,  in 
spite  of  all  our  efforts,  effected  a  junction  with  the 
remainder  of  the  army. 

During  the  day,  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon  had 
ascended  the  elevated  plain  above  Saltillo,  and  occupied 
the  road  from  the  city  to  the  field  of  battle,  where  they 
intercepted  several  of  our  men.  Approaching  the  town, 
they  were  fired  upon  by  Captain  Webster  from  the 
redoubt  occupied  by  his  company,  and  then  m6Ved  off 
towards  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  and  obliquely 
towards  Buena  Vista.  At  this  time,  Captain  Shover 
moved  rapidly  forward  with  his  piece,  supported  by  a 
miscellaneous  command  of  mounted  volunteers,  and 
fired  several  shots  at  the  cavalry  with  great  effect.  They 
were  driven  into  the  ravines  which  lead  to  the  lower 
valley,  closely  pursued  by  Captain  Shover,  who  was 
farther  supported  by  a  piece  of  Captain  Webster's  bat 
tery,  under  Lieutenant  Donaldson,  which  had  advanced 
from  the  redoubt,  supported  by  Captain  Wheeler's  com 
pany  of  Illinois  volunteers.  The  enemy  made  one  or 
two  efforts  to  charge  the  artillery,  but  was  finally  driven 


THE    WAR.  115 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

back  in  a  confused  mass,  and  did  not  again  appear  upon 
the  plain. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  firing  had  partially  ceased  upon 
the  principal  field.  The  enemy  seemed  to  confine  his 
efforts  to  the  protection  of  his  artillery,  and  I  had  left 
the  plateau  for  a  moment,  when  I  was  recalled  thither 
by  a  very  heavy  musketry  fire.  On  regaining  that  posi 
tion,  I  discovered  that  our  infantry  (Illinois  and  2d 
Kentucky)  had  engaged  a  greatly  superior  force  of  the 
enemy — evidently  his  reserve — and  that  they  had  been 
overwhelmed  by  numbers.  The  moment  was  most 
critical.  Captain  O'Brien,  with  two  pieces,  had  sus 
tained  this  heavy  charge  to  the  last,  and  was  finally 
obliged  to  leave  his  guns  on  the  field — his  infantry  sup 
port  being  entirely  routed.  Captain  Bragg,  who  had 
just  arrived  from  the  left,  was  ordered  at  once  into  bat 
tery.  Without  any  infantry  to  support  him,  and  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  losing  his  guns,  this  officer  came  rapidly 
into  action,  the  Mexican  line  being  but  a  few  yards 
from  the  muzzle  of  his  pieces.  The  first  discharge  of 
canister  caused  the  enemy  to  hesitate,  and  the  second 
and  third  drove  him  back  in  disorder,  and  saved  the 
day.  The  2d  Kentucky  regiment,  which  had  advanced 
beyond  supporting  distance  in  this  affair,  was  driven 
back  and  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy's  cavalry. 
Taking  a  ravine  which  led  in  the  direction  of  Captain 
Washington's  battery,  their  pursuers  became  exposed  to 
his  fire,  which  soon  checked  and  drove  them  back  with 
loss.  In  the  mean  time  the  rest  of  our  artillery  had 
taken  position  on  the  plateau,  covered  by  the  Missis 
sippi  and  3d  Indiana  regiments,  the  former  of  which 
had  reached  the  ground  in  time  to  pour  a  fire  into  the 


116  THE   WAR. 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 


right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  thus  contribute  to  his 
repulse.  In  this  last  conflict  we  had  the  misfortune  to 
sustain  a  very  heavy  loss.  Colonel  Hardin,  1st  Illinois, 
and  Colonel  McKee  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay,  2d 
Kentucky  regiment,  fell  at  this  time  while  gallantly 
leading  their  commands. 

No  farther  attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  force 
our  position,  and  the  approach  of  night  gave  an  oppor 
tunity  to  pay  proper  attention  to  the  wounded,  and  also 
to  refresh  the  soldiers,  who  had  been  exhausted  by  in 
cessant  watchfulness  and  combat.  Though  the  night 
was  severely  cold,  the  troops  were  compelled  for  the 
most  to  bivouac  without  fires,  expecting  that  morning 
would  renew  the  conflict.  During  the  night  the  wounded 
were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  every  preparation  made 
to  receive  the  enemy,  should  he  again  attack  our  posi 
tion.  Seven  fresh  companies  were  drawn  from  the 
town,  and  Brigadier-General  Marshall,  with  a  reinforce 
ment  of  Kentucky  cavalry  and  four  heavy  guns,  under 
Captain  Prentiss,  1st  artillery,  was  near  at  hand,  when 
it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  his 
position  during  the  night.  Our  scouts  soon  ascertained 
that  he  had  fallen  back  upon  Agua  Nueva.  The  great 
disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  exhaustion  of  our  troops, 
rendered  it  inexpedient  and  hazardous  to  attempt  pur 
suit.  A  staff  officer  was  despatched  to  General  Santa 
Anna  to  negotiate  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  which  was 
satisfactorily  completed  on  the  following  day.  Our  own 
dead  were  collected  and  buried,  and  the  Mexican 
wounded,  of  which  a  large  number  had  been  left  upon 
the  field,  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  rendered  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit. 


THE    WAR.  119 

Official  report  of  General  Taylor. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  a  close  reconnoissance 
was  made  of  the  enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to 
be  occupied  only  by  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  the  infan 
try  and  artillery  having  retreated  in  the  direction  of  San 
Luis  Potosi.  On  the  27th,  our  troops  resumed  their 
former  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  the  enemy's  rear-guard 
evacuating  the  place  as  we  approached,  leaving  a 
considerable  number  of  wounded.  It  was  my  pur 
pose  to  beat  up  his  quarters  at  Encarnacion  early  the 
next  morning,  but  upon  examination,  the  weak  con 
dition  of  the  cavalry  horses  rendered  it  unadvisable  to 
attempt  so  long  a  march  without  water.  A  command  was 
finally  despatched  to  Encarnacion,  on  the  1st  of  March, 
under  Colonel  Belknap.  Some  two  hundred  wounded, 
and  about  sixty  Mexican  soldiers  were  found  there,  the 
army  having  passed  on  in  the  direction  of  Matehuala, 
with  greatly  reduced  numbers,  and  suffering  much  from 
hunger.  The  dead  and  dying  were  strewed  upon  the 
road  and  crowded  the  buildings  of  the  hacienda. 

The  American  force  engaged  in  the  action  of  Buena 
Vista  is  shown,  by  the  field  report,  to  have  been  ihree 
hundred  and  thirty-four  officers,  ani  four  thousand  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  exclusive  of  the  small 
command  left  in  and  near  Saltillo.  Of  this  number,  two 
squadrons  of  cavalry  and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery, 
making  not  more  than  four  hundred  and  fifty-three  men, 
composed  the  only  force  of  regular  troops.  The  strength 
of  the  Mexican  army  is  stated  by  General  Santa  Anna, 
in  his  summons,  to  be  twenty  thousand  ;  and  lhat  estimate 
is  confirmed  by  all  the  information  since  obtained.  Our 
loss  is  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  killed,  four  hundred 
and  fifty-six  wounded,  and  twenty-three  missing.  Of  the 


120  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

numerous  wounded,  many  did  not  require  removal  to  the 
hospital,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a  comparatively  small  num 
ber  will  be  permanently  disabled.  The  Mexican  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  may  be  fairly  estimated  at  one  thou 
sand  five  hundred,  and  will  probably  reach  two  thousand. 
At  least  five  hundred  of  their  killed  were  left  upon  the 
field  of  battle.  We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the 
number  of  deserters  and  dispersed  men  from  their  ranks, 
but  it  is  known  to  be  very  great." 

The  nature  of  the  ground  at  Buena  Vista,  made  the 
battle  a  series  of  detached  encounters,  in  which  each 
side  had  at  times  the  superiority  of  force.  It  was  the 
work  of  the  able  commander  to  give  unity  to  the  whole 
by  the  proper  direction  of  the  several  partial  efforts. 
These  divided  operations  gave  splendid  opportunities 
for  the  display  of  individual  gallantry  and  state  pride, 
which  were  cheerfully  improved,  especially  by  the  volun 
teers,  many  of  whom  had  never  faced  an  enemy  before, 
and  were  determined  to  reap  laurels  on  the  first  field. 
It  is  a  fact  never  before  known  in  the  annals  of  war, 
tha^  almost  every  American  soldier  in  the  present  war, 
considers  himself  in  some  degree  its  historian.  Nearly 
every  one  is  able  to  write,  many  have  made  engage 
ments  with  editors  at  home  to  furnish  accounts  of  their 
engagements,  and  each  on^  is  interested  in  the  success 
of  his  own  company  that  the  account  he  must  give  may 
not  be  disg'aceful.  Thus  a  direct  personal  pride  is 
brought  to  ;  id  the  military  pride  necessary  to  the  forma 
tion  of  a  good  soldier,  an  element  which  must  be  of 
great  account  in  explaining  the  success  of  our  arms. 
The  future  historian  of  the  war,  possessed  of  the  im 
mense  mass  of  materials  thus  furnished,  will  catch  the 


THE    WAR.  121 

Kentucky  regiment. 


enthusiasm  with  which  the  brave  soldiers  write  in  the 
moment  of  victory,  and  build  up  for  himself  a  reputation 
unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  of  the  warrior  historians, 
Xenophon,  Caesar,  or  Napier. 

We  give  an  extract  from  one  of  these  letters,  which 
illustrates  at  once  the  force  of  the  above  remark,  and 
the  bravery  of  a  particular  regiment. 

"  At  a  very  critical  point  of  the  battle  when  it  became 
necessary  to  sustain  one  of  our  columns,  which  was 
staggering  under  a  charge  made  by  the  Mexicans,  in 
overwhelming  numbers,  General  Taylor  despatched  Mr. 
Crittenden  to  order  Colonel  McKee,  of  the  2d  Kentucky 
regiment,  to  bring  his  men  into  immediate  action.  Mr. 
Crittenden  found  the  regiment,  men  and  officers,  eager 
for  the  fray,  delivered  the  order  and  rode  back  to  the 
general,  by  whose  side  it  was  his  duty  to  keep.  The 
Kentuckians  moved  forward  in  gallant  style,  led  by 
McKee  and  Clay,  both  of  whom,  alas !  fell  in  a  subse 
quent  part  of  the  day.  It  so  happened  that  before 
reaching  a  position  from  which  they  could  deliver  an 
effective  fire,  the  regiment  had  to  cross  a  valley  which 
was  broken  up  by  ravines  and  masses  of  stone.  Whilst 
crossing  this  valley  the  heads  only  of  the  men  could  be 
seen  from  the  point  which  General  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Crittenden  occupied — and  these  were  bobbing  up  and 
down  and  crosswise  in  such  confusion  as  to  impress  both 
with  the  idea  that  the  regiment  had  fallen  into  disorder. 
The  Mexicans  were  annoying  them  at  the  same  moment 
by  a  fire,  which  helped  to  confirm  the  opinion  of  the 
general  that  the  Kentuckians  were  thrown  into  dismay. 

It  was  one  of  these  decisive  crises,  which  occur  in 
every  contested  field,  when  the  issue  of  the  day  de- 

6 


122  THE    WAR. 


Kentucky  regiment. 


pended,  for  the  time  being,  upon  the  gallantry  of  a  par 
ticular  corps. 

General  Taylor,  who,  as  before  said,  could  only  see 
the  heads  of  the  troops,  and  misled  by  their  motions  in 
getting  across  gullies  and  going  around  rocks  and  other 
obstructions,  into  the  belief  that  they  were  about  to  falter, 
turned  to  Mr.  Crittenden,  who  is  a  Kentuckian,  and'with 
a  countenance,  indicating  deep  mortification — for  the  ge 
neral  is  a  resident  in  Kentucky  too — and  an  eye  fierce  with 
emotion,  exclaimed,  *  Mr.  Crittenden,  this  will  not  do 
— this  is  not  the  way  for  Kentuckians  to  behave  them 
selves  when  called  upon  to  make  a  good  battle — it  will 
not  answer,  sir:'  and  with  this  he  clenched  his  hands, 
and  knit  his  brow,  and  set  his  teeth  hard  together.  Mr. 
Crittenden,  who  was  mistaken  by  the  same  indications 
that  deceived  the  general,  could  scarcely  make  a  reply 
from  very  chagrin  and  shame.  In  a  few  moments, 
however,  the  Kentuckians  had  crossed  the  uneven  places, 
and  were  seen  ascending  the  slope  of  the  valley,  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  and  with  the  firm  and  regular  step  of  vete 
rans  of  a  hundred  fields.  On  they  moved  until  they 
reached  the  crest  of  the  hill,  where  they  met  the  enemy 
before  the  flush  of  a  temporary  advantage  had  subsided. 
Here  they  delivered  their  fires  with  such  regularity  and 
deadly  aim  that  the  decimated  phalanx  of  Mexico  gave 
way  and  retreated  precipitately.  As  the  Kentuckians 
emerged  from  the  valley  the  countenance  of  the  old 
general,  who  was  regarding  them  with  the  intensest 
interest,  gradually  relaxed  the  bitterness  of  its  expres 
sion.  A  glow  of  pride  supplanted  the  deep  mortification 
which  fixed  its  muscles,  and  enthusiasm  qualified  the 
fierce  glance  of  his  eye.  Forward  they  moved  under  his 


THE     WAR.  123 

Taylor  pursues  Urrea. 


riveted  gaze,  whose  feelings  became  more  and  more 
wrought  up  as  they  approached  the  scene  of  carnage. 
When  they  opened  their  fire  the  old  general  could  no 
longer  restrain  his  admiration,  but  broke  forth  with  a 
loud  huzza, — 'Hurrah  for  old  Kentucky!' he  exclaimed, 
talking  to  himself,  and  rising  in  his  saddle  ;  *  that's  the 
way  to  do  it ;  give  it  to  them,'  and  the  tears  of  exulta 
tion  rolled  down  his  cheeks  as  he  said  it. 

Having  got  rid  of  this  ebullition  of  state  pride,  he  went 
about  looking  after  other  parts  of  the  field. 

The  Kentuckians  did  their  duty  that  day  as  others  did. 
They  paid  toll  in  travelling  the  high  road  to  glory  as  the 
list  of  killed  and  wounded  shows." 

On  the  2d  of  March  Mr.  Crittenden  set  out  for  Wash 
ington  with  the  official  documents  of  the  battle,  escorted 
by  Major  Giddings,  with  two  hundred  and  sixty  infantry 
and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  having  in  charge  one 
hundred   and  fifty  wagons.     At   a   mile    distant   from 
Seralvo  the  escort  was  attacked  by  General  Urrea  with 
a  force  of  sixteen  hundred  Mexican  cavalry  and  infantry. 
The  enemy  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  forty-five  killed 
and  wounded.     Major  Giddings  lost   seventeen   men, 
fifteen  of  whom  were  teamsters.     Subsequently  General 
Taylor  marched  in  pursuit  of  Urrea,  who  fled  over  the 
mountain.1*.     General  Taylor  then  returned  and  fixed  his 
camp  at  the  Walnut  Springs,  three  miles  from  Monterey, 
-\vhere  it  remained  under  the  charge  of  General  Wool,  to 
whose  care  General  Taylor  committed  the  army  while 
he  himself  returned  for  a  little  while  to  visit  his  family 
in  the  United  States. 

Along    the    Rio    Grande    the    only  warfare    urged 
after    the    capture   of    Matamoras    was    that  of   the 


124  THE    WAB. 

Order  of  Canales. 


guerillas.  The  butcheries  perpetrated  by  these  bands  are 
appalling,  war  without  pity  being  their  cardinal  princi 
ple.  The  following  manifesto  taken  from  a  captive  of 
the  band  of  Canales,  by  Lieutenant  Bee  of  Captain 
Lamar's  Rangers.  Canales  is  a  graduate  of  a  sanguinary 
school,  a  robber  chief  by  profession,  and  a  cut-throat  by 
nature ;  he  is  just  the  man  to  gloat  over  the  barbarities 
of  such  a  war.  The  pretended  necessity  for  retaliation 
with  which  his  proclamation  commences  refers  to  an 
excess  of  vengeance  perpetrated  by  a  few  disorderly 
soldiers  in  a  moment  of  excitement,  occasioned  by  the 
most  dastardly  murder  of  one  of  their  comrades  by  two 
of  the  band  of  Canales,  who  were  found  among  the  party 
of  Mexicans  that  were  slain.  Without  this  outrage, 
however,  the  guerilla  system  would  have  been  adopted, 
as  it  has  been  in  the  Central  States.  The  Mexicans 
themselves  are  not  more  free  from  outrage  and  plunder 
at  the  hands  of  these  bands  than  the  Americans;  and 
many  instances  can  be  cited  where  the  unfortunate  in 
habitants  welcome  the  approach  of  their  foes  that  they 
may  have  protection  from  these  their  pretended  friends. 

"I  this  day  send  to  the  adjutant  inspector  of  the 
National  Guards  the  following  instructions : 

I  learn,  with  the  greatest  indignation,  that  the  Ameri 
cans  have  committed  a  most  horrible  massacre  at  the 
rancho  of  the  Guadalupe.  They  made  prisoners,  in  their 
own  houses  and  by  the  side  of  their  families,  twenty-five 
peaceable  men,  and  immediately  shot  them.  To  repel 
this  class  of  warfare,  which  is  not  war  but  atrocity  in  all 
its  fury,  there  is  no  other  course  left  us  than  retaliation ; 
and  in  order  to  pursue  this  method,  rendered  imperative 
by  the  fatal  circumstances  above  mentioned,  you  will 


Commencement  of  the  Guerilla  Warfare. 


THE    WAR.  127 

Order  of  Canales. 


immediately  declare  martial  law,  with  the  understanding 
that  eight  days  after  the  publication  of  the  same  every 
individual  who  has  not  taken  up  arms  (being  capable  of 
so  doing)  shah  be  considered  a  traitor  and  instantly  shot. 

Martial  law  being  in  force,  you  are  bound  to  give  no 
quarters  to  any  American  whom  you  may  meet,  or  who 
may  present  himself  to  you,  even  though  he  be  without 
arms.  You  are  also  directed  to  publish  this  to  all  the 
towns  in  this  state,  forcibly  impressing  them  with  the 
severe  punishment  that  shall  be  inflicted  for  the  least 
omission  of  this  order. 

We  have  arrived  at  that  state  in  which  our  country 
requires  the  greatest  sacrifices ;  her  sons  should  glory  in 
nothing  but  to  become  soldiers,  and  as  brave  Mexicans 
to  meet  the  crisis.  Therefore,  if  the  army  of  invasion 
continues,  and  our  people  remain  in  the  towns  which 
they  have  molested,  they  deserve  not  one  ray  of  sympa 
thy  ;  nor  should  any  one  ever  cease  to  make  war  upon 
them.  You  will  send  a  copy  of  this  to  each  of  your 
subordinates,  and  they  are  authorized  ta  proceed  against 
the  chiefs  of  their  squadrons,  or  against  their  colonels  or 
any  other,  even  against  me,  for  any  infraction  of  this 
order — the  only  mode  of  salvation  left.  The  enemy 
wages  war  against  us,  and  even  against  those  peaceable 
citizens  who,  actuated  by  improper  impulses,  desire  to 
remain  quiet  in  their  houses.  Even  these  they  kill, 
without  quarter;  and  this  is  the  greatest  favour  they 
may  expect  from  them.  The  only  alternative  left  us, 
under  these  circumstances,  is  retaliation,  which  is  the 
strong  right  of  the  offended  against  the  offending.  To 
carry  this  into  effect,  attach  yourself  to  the  authorities. 
Your  failing  to  do  this  will  be  considered  a  crime  of  the 


128  THE    WAR. 

Operations  of  General  Scott. 

greatest  magnitude.  All  the  officers  of  the  troops  are 
directed  to  assist  you  in  carrying  out  this  order,  and  it 
is  distinctly  understood  there  shall  be  no  exceptions. 
Neither  the  clergy,  military,  citizens,  nor  other  persons, 
shall  enjoy  the  privilege  of  remaining  peaceably  at  their 
homes.  The  whole  of  the  corporation  shall  turn  out 
with  the  citizens,  leaving  solely  as  authority  of  the  town 
one  of  the  members  who  is  over  the  age  of  sixty  years ; 
at  the  same  time,  if  all  of  the  members  are  capable  of 
bearing  arms,  then  none  shall  be  excepted ;  leaving  to 
act  some  one  who  is  incapable  of  military  service.  You 
yourself  must  be  an  example  to  others,  by  conforming 
to  this  requisition.  And  I  send  this  to  you  for  publica 
tion,  and  charge  you  to  see  it  executed  in  every  par 
ticular,  and  communicate  it  also  to  the  commanders  of 
the  squadrons  in  your  city,  who  will  aid  you  in  carrying 
into  effect  these  instructions ;  and  in  fact  you  are  directed 
to  do  all  and  every  thing  which  your  patriotism  may 
prompt.  God  and  liberty!" 

We  turn  next  to  the  sphere  of  operations  of  General 
Winfield  Scott,  the  commander-iii-chief  of  the  armies 
of  the  United  States.  That  officer  sailed  from  New 
York  on  the  30th  of  November,  and  reached  the  Rio 
Grande  on  the  1st  of  January.  His  object  was  to  cap 
ture  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan 
d'Ulloa,  the  naval  forces  under  Commodore  Conner 
oeing  intended  to  co-operate  in  the  attack.  As  we  have 
seen,  all  the  regular  force  was  detached  from  General 
Taylor's  command,  and  ordered  to  the  general  rendez 
vous  at  the  island  of  Lobos,  not  very  distant  from  Vera 
Cruz,  and  the  anchorage  of  the  Gulf  Squadron  at  Anton 
Lizardo.  The  transports  slowly  gathered  together  at 


THE     WAR.  129 

landing  at  Vera  Cruz. 


that  place  the  troops  from  the  Brazos,  from  New  Orleans, 
and  the  north,  cavalry,  infantry,  artillery,  mortars,  bomb- 
ketches,  shells  and  shot — in  short,  all  the  materiel  ne 
cessary  for  the  successful  execution  of  the  brilliant  de 
signs  of  General  Scott.  At  length  the  army,  amounting 
to  about  twelve  thousand  men,  thoroughly  equipped,  re- 
embarked  on  board  of  the  transports  numbering  nearly 
a  hundred  sail,  and  proceeded  to  effect  a  landing  at 
Vera  Cruz.  It  became  the  duty  of  the  navy  to  co-ope 
rate  in  the  landing,  and  the  particulars  of  the  disem 
barkation  are  given  in  the  despatch  of  Commodore 
Conner,  which  we  subjoin. 

"  After  a  joint  reconnoissance,  made  by  the  general 
and  myself  in  the  steamer  Petrita,  the  beach  due  west 
from  Sacrificios,  one  of  the  points  spoken  of  in  my  pre 
vious  letters,  was  selected  as  the  most  suitable  for  the 
purpose.  The  anchorage  near  this  place  being  ex 
tremely  contracted,  it  became  necessary,  in  order  to 
avoid  crowding  it  with  an  undue  number  of  vessels,  to 
transfer  most  of  the  troops  to  the  vessels  of  war  for  trans 
portation  to  Sacrificios.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of 
the  9th,  at  daylight,  all  necessary  preparations — such  as 
launching  and  numbering  the  boats,  detailing  officers, 
&c. — having  been  previously  made,  this  transfer  was 
commenced.  The  frigates  received  on  board  between 
twenty-five  and  twenty-eight  hundred  men  each,  with 
their  arms  and  accoutrements,  and  the  sloops  and  smaller 
vessels  number  in  proportion. 

This  part  of  the  movement  was  completed  very  suc 
cessfully  about  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  a  few  minutes 
thereafter  the  squadron  under  my  command,  accom 
panied  by  the  commanding  general,  in  the  steamship 

6* 


130  THE    WAR. 

Landing  at  Vera  Cruz. 

Massachusetts,  and  such  of  the  transports  as  had  been 
selected  for  the  purpose,  got  under  way.  The  weather 
was  very  fine — indeed  we  could  not  have  been  more 
•  favoured  in  this  particular  than  we  were.  We  had  a 
fresh,  and  yet  gentle  breeze  from  the  south-east,  and  a 
perfectly  smooth  sea.  The  passage  to  Sacrificios  occu 
pied  us  between  two  and  three  hours.  Each  ship  came 
in  and  anchored  without  the  slightest  disorder  or  con 
fusion,  in  the  small  space  allotted  to  her — the  harbour 
being  still  very  much  crowded,  notwithstanding  the 
number  of  transports  we  had  left  behind.  The  disem 
barkation  commenced  on  the  instant.  Whilst  we  were 
transferring  the  troops  from  the  ships  to  the  serf-boats, 
(sixty-five  in  number,)  I  directed  the  steamers  Spitfire 
and  Vixen,  and  the  five  gun-boats,  to  form  in  a  line 
parallel  with  and  close  in  to  the  beach,  to  cover  the 
landing.  This  order  was  promptly  executed,  and  these 
small  vessels,  from  the  lightness  of  their  draught,  were 
enabled  to  take  positions  within  good  grape-range  of  the 
shore.  As  the  boats  severally  received  their  comple 
ments  of  troops,  they  assembled,  in  a  line  abreast,  be 
tween  the  fleet  and  the  gun-boats ;  and  when  all  were 
ready,  they  pulled  in,  together,  under  the  guidance  of  a 
number  of  the  officers  of  the  squadron,  who  had  been 
detailed  for  this  purpose.  General  Worth  commanded 
this,  the  first  line  of  the  army,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
of  forming  his  command  on  the  beach  and  neighbouring 
heights  just  before  sunset.  Four  thousand  five  hundred 
men  were  thus  thrown  on  shore,  almost  simultaneously. 
No  enemy  appeared  to  offer  us  the  slightest  opposi 
tion.  The  first  line  being  landed,  the  boats,  in  succes 
sive  trips,  relieved  the  men  of  war  and  transports  of 


THE    WAR.  131 

Landing  at  Vera  Cruz 


their  remaining  troops,  by  ten  o'clock,  p.  M.  The  whole 
army,  (save  a  few  straggling  companies,)  consisting  of 
upwards  of  ten  thousand  men,  were  thus  safely  deposited 
on  shore,  without  the  slightest  accident  of  any  kind.  The 
officers  and  seamen  under  my  command,  vied  with  each 
other  on  this  occasion,  in  a  zealous  and  energetic  per 
formance  of  their  duty.  I  cannot  but  express  to  the 
department  the  great  satisfaction  I  have  derived  from 
witnessing  their  efforts  to  contribute  all  in  their  power  to 
the  success  of  their  more  fortunate  brethren  of  the  army. 
The  weather  still  continuing  fane,  to-day  we  were  e,n- 
gaged  in  landing  the  artillery,  horses,  provisions,  and 
other  materiel.  The  steamer  New  Orleans,  with  the 
Louisiana  regiment  of  volunteers,  eight  hundred  strong, 
arrived  most  opportunely  at  Anton  Lizardo,  just  as  we 
had  put  ourselves  in  motion.  She  joined  us,  and  her 
troops  were  landed  with  the  rest." 

"  The  brilliant  scene,"  says  the  Rev.  F.  M.  Taylor, 
in  his  new  work,  "The  Broad  Pennant,"  "  the  brilliant 
scene  presented  by  the  disembarkation  of  our  army  of 
twelve  thousand  men  from  the  ships,  so  successfully  and 
beautifully  conducted,  might  well  excite  the  admiration 
and  claim  the  interested  gaze  of  the  beholders.  The  scene 
has  never  been  equalled  on  the  continent  of  America, 
and  no  disembarkation  on  record  can  have  surpassed  it 
for  its  successful  accomplishment.  It  has  been  com 
pared  with  the  landing  of  the  French  expedition  against 
Algiers,  in  1830,  which  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
most  complete  armaments,  in  every  respect,  that  ever 
left  Europe.  That  expedition  had  been  prepared  with 
labour,  attention,  and  experience ;  and  nothing  had  been 
omitted  to  insure  success,  particularly  in  the  means  and 


132  THE    WAR. 

Description  of  Vera  Cruz. 

facilities  for  landing  the  troops.  Its  disembarkation 
took  place  in  a  wide  bay,  which  was  more  favourable 
than  an  open  beach  directly  on  the  ocean ;  and,  as  in 
the  present  instance,  it  was  made  without  any  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Yet  only  nine  thousand  men 
were  landed  the  first  day,  and  thirty  to  forty  lives  were 
lost  by  accidents  or  upsetting  of  boats;  whereas  on 
the  present  occasion,  twelve  thousand  were  landed  in 
one  day  without  the  slightest  accident  or  loss  of  a  single 
life.  The  great  credit  of  this,  of  course  belongs  to  the 
navy,  under  whose  orders  and  arrangements,  and  by 
whose  exertions  it  was  effected,  and  reflects  the  highest 
credit  on  Commodore  Conner,  and  the  gallant  officers 
and  seamen  belonging  to  the  squadron." 

It  may  not  be  amiss,  before  proceeding  to  give  an 
account  of  the  siege,  to  subjoin  a  short  extract  from  an 
article  descriptive  of  Vera  Cruz,  from  the  New  York 
Herald,  the  more  especially  as  they  serve  to  justify  in 
some  degree  the  opinion  entertained  by  the  Mexicans 
that  it  was  impregnable. 

"  The  fortifications  consist  of  nine  towers  connected 
together  by  means  of  a  stone  and  mortar  wall,  which, 
however,  is  not  very  thick.  The  two  towers  named 
Santiago  and  Conception  are  the  most  important,  as  well 
from  their  size  and  strength,  as  from  the  fact  that  by 
their  position  they  contribute  much  to  the  defense  of  the 
port.  They  are  situated  at  that  portion  of  the  walls 
looking  toward  the  castle  of  San  Juan,  and  are  distant 
from  each  other  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy 
varas.  The  other  towers,  including  the  one  called  San 
Fernando,  are  almost  equal  in  shape,  size,  and  strength. 
All  of  them  can  mount  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery 


THE     WAR.  133 

Siege  of  Vera  Cruz. 


of  various  sizes;  and  save  those  of  the  middle  ones, 
their  fires  all  cross  in  front  of  the  guard-houses,  the  ex 
ternal  walls  of  which  form  part  of  the  walls  which  sur 
round  the  city. 

Having  completed  the  investment  of  the  city,  General 
Scott  sent  a  summons  to  the  commander  to  surrender, 
that  Vera  Cruz  might  be  saved  "from  the  imminent 
hazard  of  demolition — its  gallant  defenders  from  a  use 
less  effusion  of  blood,  and  its  peaceful  inhabitants — 
women  and  children,  inclusive — from  the  inevitable 
horrors  of  a  triumphant  assault."  He  offered  in  case 
the  city  and  castle  had  separate  commanders,  and 
the  former  were  surrendered,  to  agree  not  to  fire  a 
shot  from  the  city  upon  the  castle,  unless  the  castle 
should  previously  fire  upon  the  city.  The  answer  to 
this  summons  was  the  announcement  of  the  determina 
tion  of  Don  Juan  Morales  to  defend  both  the  city  and 
the  castle  to  the  last. 

Seven  ten-inch  mortars  being  in  battery,  opened  upon 
the  city  on  the  receipt  of  this  reply,  and  the  small  ves 
sels  of  the  squadron  approached  to  within  a  mile  and  an 
eighth  of  the  city,  and  opened  a  fire  upon  it,  which  they 
continued  until  called  off  by  the  commodore  on  the  suc 
ceeding  day.  On  the  23d,  three  other  mortars  were 
added  to  the  seven  already  at  work ;  on  the  24th  an 
other  battery,  commanded  by  officers  of  the  navy,  con 
sisting  of  three  thirty-two-pounders  and  three  eight-inch 
Paixhan  guns,  all  landed  from  the  squadron,  was  opened 
with  great  activity.  On  the  25th,  a  new  battery,  mount 
ing  four  twenty-four-pounders  and  two  eight-inch  Paix 
han  guns,  was  opened  with  great  effect,  making  five 
batteries  in  awful  activity.  Such  a  terrible  effect  had 


134  THE     WAR. 

Surrender  of  Veia  Cruz. 

now  been  produced  upon  the  city  as  to  make  its  early 
fall  inevitable.  On  the  24th,  the  consuls  of  the  European 
powers  sent  a  memorial  to  General  Scott,  asking  for  a 
truce,  in  order  that  neutrals  and  women  and  children 
might  withdraw  from  the  city.  This  request,  preferred 
after  they  had  despised  the  early  warning  of  General 
Scott  to  retire,  was  of  course  refused. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  General  Landero,  on 
whom  General  Morales  had  devolved  the  command, 
made  overtures  which  resulted  in  a  capitulation  signed 
on  the  evening  of  that  day.  On  the  29th  of  March,  the 
flag  of  the  United  States  was  raised  in  triumph  over  the 
city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz.  There  was  one  drawback 
to  the  joy  felt  on  this  occasion,  regret  for  the  loss  of 
the  brave  and  pious  Captain  John  R.  Vinton  of  the  3d 
artillery.*  General  Scott  writes  on  the  23d  as  follows : 
"  Including  the  preparation  and  defense  of  the  bat 
teries,  from  the  beginning  —  now  many  days — and 

*  John  R.  Vinton,  who  had  been  brevetted  a  major  at  the  time  he 
fell,  although  without  his  knowledge  of  the  promotion,  was  one  of  the 
most  valuable  officers  in  the  army.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point, 
commissioned  at  seventeen,  employed  for  several  years  on  topographical 
duty  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  in  Canada,  adjutant  under  General 
Eustis,  aid  to  General  Brown,  and  having  served  with  distinction  in  the 
Seminole  war,  and  particulaily  at  the  battle  near  Lake  Monroe,  he  finally 
raised  his  military  reputation  to  the  highest  point  at  the  siege  of  Mon 
terey.  Here  he  was  with  General  Worth's  division,  and  accompanied 
the  troops  as  they  passed  so  long  under  fire  from  the  two  heights,  in  the 
storming  of  those  heights,  the  capture  of  the  palace,  and  the  subsequent 
street  assault,  where  the  soldiers  dug  through  the  walls  of  houses  amid 
a  continual  fire  of  musketry  from  tne  house  tops. 

Vinton  was  not  only  highly  distinguished  as  an  officer,  but  he  was 
profoundly  learned,  skilled  in  the  fine  arts,  and  a  man  of  unquestionable 
piety. 


THE    WAR.  135 

Siege  of  Vera  Cruz. 


notwithstanding  the  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy,  from  city 
and  castle — we  have  only  had  four  or  five  men  wounded, 
and  one  officer  and  one  man  killed,  in  or  near  the 
trenches.  That  officer  was  Captain  John  R.  Vinton,  of 
the  United  States  3d  artillery,  one  of  the  most  talented, 
accomplished,  and  effective  members  of  the  army,  and 
who  was  highly  distinguished  in  the  brilliant  operations 
at  Monterey.  He  fell,  last  evening,  in  the  trenches,  where 
he  was  on  duty  as  field  and  commanding  officer,  uni 
versally  regretted.  I  have  just  attended  his  honoured 
remains  to  a  soldier's  grave — in  full  view  of  the  enemy 
and  within  reach  of  his  guns. 

As  soon  as  Commodore  Perry  perceived  the  land 
forces  engaged,  he  ordered  Captain  Tatnall,  with  what 
is  called  the  "  Mosquito  Fleet,"  consisting  of  the  steam 
ers  Spitfire  and  Vixen,  and  five  gun-boats,  viz :  Reefer, 
Bonita,  Tampico,  Falconer,  and  Petrel,  to  attack.  Cap 
tain  Tatnall  inquired  at  what  point  he  should  engage  ? 
Commmodore  Perry  very  emphatically  replied,  "  Where- 
ever  you  can  do  the  most  execution,  sir."  Accordingly 
the  little  fleet  took  position  under  a  point  of  land  known 
as  the  "Lime  Kiln,"  about  a  mile  from  the  city,  where 
they  were  protected  from  a  point  blank  shot  of  the 
castle.  As  soon  as  they  got  their  position  in  line  they 
opened  a  fire  of  round  shot  and  shell  at  a  rapid  rate, 
and  *Jhrew  them  "  handsomely"  into  the  town  and  Fort 
Santiago. 

The  castle  soon  paid  its  respects  to  Captain  Tatnall, 
and  the  powerful  engines  of  havoc  and  destruction  were 
now  in  full  blast  from  every  quarter,  hurling  their  dread- 


136  THE    WAR. 

Coolness  of  the  American  soldiers. 

7— • '     •      ' — 

ful  and  deadly  missiles  into  each  other's  ranks  in  rapid 
succession,  which  they  kept  up  till  about  dark,  when 
the  Mexican  batteries  comparatively  ceased,  and  the 
"  Mosquito  Fleet"  also  held  off  for  the  night. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  party  that  were  in  the  trenches 
were  relieved  by  another  detail.  The  troops  who  re 
turned  from  the  intrenchments  were  literally  covered 
with  smoke  and  dust,  and  so  much  disfigured  that  they 
could  not  be  recognized  except  by  their  voices.  Shell 
after  shell  exploded  in  their  midst,  and  shot  after  shot 
threw  barrels  of  earth  from  the  embankments  over  their 
heads  as  they  lay  in  the  trenches. 

An  incident  occurred  during  the  heaviest  of  the  fire, 
evincing  the  coolness  of  the  American  soldiers  in  time 
of  the  greatest  danger.  A  small  party  who  had  been 
lying  in  the  trenches  all  day,  becoming  tired  of  doing 
nothing,  as  they  said,  were  devising  some  means  of  pass 
ing  away  the  time.  At  length  one  of  them  proposed  a 
game  at  cards,  and  hauled  out  an  old  greasy  pack,  and 
some  half  dozen  of  them  sat  down  in  the  ditch  to  play, 
with  nothing  but  tobacco  for  stakes.  They  became 
much  interested,  and  it  was  not  long  before  they  forgot 
all  about  cannon,  bomb-shells,  Mexican  batteries,  or 
any  thing  else  but  their  tobacco  and  cards.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  before  a  thirteen  inch  shell  fell  on  the 
top  of  the  embankment ;  the  explosion  completely 
covered  them  with  the  earth ;  they  all  scrambled  out  as 
quick  as  they  could,  and  shaking  the  sand  from  their  clotl  - 
ing,  and  cleaning  it  out  from  their  eyes,  one  of  them  veiy 
coolly  remarked,  "Well,  boys,  I'll  be  darned  if  that 
didn't  come  mighty  near  being  a  ten  strike  !" 

At  daylight  on  the  23d,  Captain  Tatnall's  Mosquito 


THE     WAR.  137 

Colonel  Hamey's  dragoon  fight. 

Fleet  weighed  anchor,  and  under  cover  of  a  moon  some 
what  clouded,  approached  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
the  castle.  As  soon  as  they  had  got  their  respective 
positions,  they  opened  a  broadside  from  the  fleet,  which 
was  answered  by  the  castle  with  great  spirit,  both  by 
round  shot  and  shell.  Captain  Tatnall  continued  the 
engagement  for  about  half  an  hour,  although  the  signal 
from  the  commodore's  ship,  calling  him  off,  had  been 
hoisted  for  some  time ;  but  was  not  seen  on  account  of 
a  cloud  of  smoke  which  hung  around  the  shipping." 

On  the  25th,  information  was  received  in  camp  that  a 
body  of  Mexicans  were  hanging  in  our  rear,  intending 
to  force  the  lines  if  possible  and  make  their  way  into  the 
city  with  a  number  of  cattle.  Colonel  Harney,  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty  dragoons,  was  ordered  out  in  search 
of  them,  and  report  his  observations.  He  discovered 
them,  about  two  thousand  in  number,  intrenched  at  a 
bridge,  and  supported  by  two  pieces  of  artillery,  three 
miles  from  General  Patterson's  head-quarters.  Colonel 
Harney  started  on  his  return,  intending  to  prepare  pro 
perly  and  attack  them  the  next  morning.  But  the  gallant 
soldier  knowing  that  delays  are  dangerous,  could  not 
bear  the  idea  of  leaving  the  enemy  after  having  come 
in  sight  of  them  without  having  a  brush.  Accordingly 
he  returned  to  the  place,  took  a  position  where  he  could 
watch  their  movements,  and  keep  his  men  secure  from 
the  enemy's  fire.  The  Mexicans  commenced  firing  at 
him,  and  threw  a  perfect  shower  of  balls  all  around  him, 
but  without  injury. 

Colonel  Harney  then  despatched  a  messenger  to  camp 
for  a  small  reinforcement,  and  some  artillery  to  break 
the  breastworks.  He  was  reinforced  from  General  Pat- 


138  THE   WAE. 

Colonel  Harney's  dragoon  fight. 

terson's  division  by  Lieutenant  Judd,  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  about  sixty  dragoons,  dismounted,  and  six 
companies  of  the  1st  and  2d  Tennessee  volunteers, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Haskell,  accompanied 
by  General  Patterson  in  person,  although  he  did  not 
take  the  command  from  Colonel  Harney,  but  merely 
participated  as  any  other  individual  who  was  engaged. 
Colonel  Harney  then  formed  the  Tennesseeans  on  the 
right,  his  dragoons  on  the  left,  and  advanced  slowly  to 
draw  the  fire  of  the  Mexicans,  until  Lieutenant  Judd  got 
his  artillery  in  such  a  position  as  he  desired. 

The  movement  succeeded  admirably:  Lieutenant 
Judd  got  his  ground  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
of  the  Mexicans,  and  commenced  firing — they  attempted 
to  return  it,  but  as  soon  as  a  slight  breach  was  made  in 
the  parapet,  Colonel  Harney  ordered  a  charge,  which 
was  answered  by  a  yell  from  the  dragoons  and  Tennes 
seeans.  Colonel  Haskell,  Captain  Cheatham,  and  Cap 
tain  Foster,  were  the  first  men  to  leap  over  the  breast 
work,  and  as  a  naval  officer  remarked,  who  witnessed 
the  whole  affair,  the  balance  went  over  so  much  like  a 
"  thousand  of  brick,"  that  there  was  no  telling  who  was 
first  or  last.  As  might  have  been  expected,  the  Mexi 
cans  were  unable  to  stand  a  charge  from  "the  boys  who 
stood  the  fire  of  the  Black  Fort  at  Monterey." 

A  few  of  the  encumbrances  were  soon  thrown  out  of 
the  way,  and  Colonel  Harney,  with  his  dragoons,  leaped 
the  breastwork  and  gave  chase.  He  had  not  proceeded 
more  than  a  mile  before  he  found  the  enemy  formed  in 
line  to  receive  him.  He  immediitely  deployed,  and 
from  the  head  of  the  line  ordered  a  charge.  When  he 
approached  within  about  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's 


THE   WAR.  139 

Colonel  Harney's  dragoon  fight. 

line  they  gave  him  a  fire  from  their  side-arms,  but  over 
shot.  Then  came  the  test  of  strength  and  skill — the 
dragoon,  with  sword  in  hand,  met  the  confiding  lancer, 
with  pointed  lance,  ready  to  receive  him.  The  contest 
was  but  for  a  short  time. 

In  many  instances  lances  were  twisted  from  their 
clenched  hands;  the  Mexicans  were  unsaddled  and 
driven,  helter-skelter,  in  every  direction,  and  pursued 
by  the  dragoons  in  detachments.  Colonel  Harney  and 
several  of  his  officers  met  their  men  in  single  combat,, 
but  none  of  them  received  any  injury  except  Lieutenant 
Neill,  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  who  was  wounded 
severely  in  two  places  from  his  magnanimity  in  attempt 
ing  to  capture  a  Mexican  instead  of  killing  him.  In 
full  run  he  overtook  the  retreating  Mexican,  and  placing 
his  sword  in  front  of  him  commanded  him  to  surrender, 
whereupon  the  Mexican  drove  his  lance  into  his  magnani 
mous  adversary.  As  the  lieutenant  wheeled  his  horse 
to  despatch  him,  another  Mexican  charged  up  and  struck 
him  with  a  lance.  However,  severely  wounded  as  he  was 
in  two  places,  he  conquered  one  of  his  foes,  and  a  cor 
poral  came  up  in  time  to  c  settle  accounts'  with  the  other. 

In  this  affair  Colonel  Harney  had  four  wounded  and 
one  killed ;  Lieutenant  Judd  had  one  killed ;  and  the 
Tennesseeans  had  Messrs.  Fox,  Long,  Woodly,  and  one 
other  of  Captain  McCown's  company,  whose  name  I  could 
not  ascertain,  wounded.  Mr.  Young,  a  Texan  ranger, 
who  was  acting  as  guide,  was  also  wounded  slightly. 
Nineteen  Mexicans  were  found  dead  at  the  bridge  be 
hind  the  breastwork.  Colonel  Harney  killed  fifty  arid 
wounded  about  the  same  number.  The  Mexican  force 
near  two  thousan :. ;  Colonel  Harney's  about  five  hundred. 


140  THE   WAR. 


American  flag  saluted. 


Colonel  Haskell,  Captains  Cheatham,  Foster,  Snead, 
Lieutenant  Judd,  and  all  the  officers  and  men  in  the 
command,  are  spoken  of  in  the  very  highest  terms  by 
Colonel  Harney  for  their  gallant  conduct  throughout  the 
whole  affair. 

On  the  27th,  Commodore  Perry  was  preparing  to  land 
another  battery  of  ten  guns  from  the  Ohio,  but  the 
necessity  was  obviated  by  the  ratification  by  both  parties 
of  the  stipulations  agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners. 

The  Mexicans  surrendered  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and 
castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  and  the  armaments  and 
munitions  of  war,  together  with  their  small  arms.  The 
officers  retained  their  side  arms,  and  the  whole  surren 
dered  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  were  allowed  to  retire  into 
the  country  on  their  parole,  General  Scott  furnishing 
them  four  days  rations. 

The  surrender  of  the  city  took  place  on  the  29th.  The 
Americans  were  drawn  up  in  two  lines  facing  each  other, 
and  extending  for  more  than  a  mile  across  the  plain. 
The  Mexicans  left  the  city  with  their  national  music 
playing  at  ten  o'clock,  passed  between  the  American  lines, 
laid  down  their  colours  and  arms,  and  marched  for  the 
interior.  The  Americans  then  entered  the  city  with 
their  national  music,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  saluted 
by  the  batteries,  the  castle,  and  the  fleet,  (see  opposite)  as 
they  were  flung  to  the  breeze  in  the  Plaza;  General 
Scott  established  his  head-quarters  at  the  place,  and 
General  Worth  became  military  governor  of  the  city. 

The  effect  of  our  shells  upon  the  city  was  now  seen, 
and  proved  to  have  been  deplorable. 

Hardly  a  house  had  escaped,  and  a  large  portion  of 
them  were  ruined.  The  shells  had  fallen  through  the 


THE 'WAR.  143 

Rations   issued  to  the  poor  of  Vera  Cruz. 

roofs  and  exploded  inside,  tearing  every  thing  into 
pieces — bursting  through  the  partitions  and  blowing  out 
the  windows. 

The  killed  and  wounded  among  the  soldiery  was 
very  slight,  about  sixty  in  all ;  but  the  citizens  suffered 
severely.  It  is  said  that  between  six  and  seven  hundred 
men,  women,  and  children  were  killed  and  wounded, 
more  than  three  hundred  being  killed. 

A  vast  quantity  of  ammunition  was  found  in  the 
work.  The  Mexicans,  says  a  letter  writer,  left  their 
national  pets  behind  in  the  castle,  and  our  troops  suf 
fered  much  annoyance  from  them  last  night.  I  allude, 
of  course,  to  fleas  and  other  vermin. 

Santiago  Fort,  that  spiteful  little  place  which  played 
so  warmly  upon  our  intrenchments,  is  a  beautiful  work, 
with  nine  guns  in  barbette,  most  of  them  fine  English 
pieces.  In  fact,  most  of  their  best  ordnance  is  of  English 
manufacture,  though  they  have  some  fine  pieces  made 
in  the  United  States. 

General  Scott  ordered  ten  thousand  rations  to  be 
issued  to  the  suffering  poor  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  it  was  an 
affecting  scene  to  witness  the  crowd  of  half  famished 
creatures  as  they  gathered  timidly  around  to  receive  their 
respective  shares. 

After  some  time  spent  in  restoring  the  city  to  clean 
liness  from  the  disgusting  state  of  filth  in  which  its 
late  possessors  had  left  it,  the  Americans  recruited 
themselves  from  their  fatigues.  Before  setting  out  for 
the  interior  General  Scott  issued  a  manifesto  declaring 
his  principle  of  non-interference  with  Mexican  religion 
and  customs. 

On  the   1st  of  April  the  army  left  Vera  Cruz,  and 


144  THE     WAR. 

Description  of  Santa  Anna's  position. 

advanced  on  the  road  to  Mexico  in  high  spirits,  and  in 
the  expectation  of  a  speedy  battle,  as  Santa  Anna  was 
known  to  be  in  the  neighbourhood  with  a  large  force. 
He  had  assembled  another  army  after  his  defeat  at  Buena 
Vista,  and  now  retired  before  the  advance  of  General 
Scott  to  Puebla,  stripped  that  city  of  every  thing  that 
could  be  of  service  to  his  army,  and  finally  took  up  a 
strong  position  at  Cerro  Gordo,  awaiting  the  attack  of 
General  Scott. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  the  Mexican 
general's  position,  and  General  Scott's  arrangements,  is 
by  a  gentlemen  who  witnessed  the  battle. 

"The  road  from  Vera  Cruz,  as  it  passes  the  Plan  del 
Rio,  which  is  a  wide,  rocky  bed  of  a  once  large  stream, 
is  commanded  by  a  series  of  high  cliffs,  rising  one  above 
the  other,  and  extending  several  miles,  and  all  well 
fortified.  The  road  then  debouches  to  the  right,  and, 
curving  around  the  ridge,  passes  over  a  high  cliff,  which 
is  completely  enfiladed  by  forts  and  batteries.  This 
ridge  is  the  commencement  of  the  Terra  Templada,  the 
upper  or  mountainous  country.  The  high  and  rocky 
ravine  of  the  river  protected  the  right  flank  of  the  posi 
tion,  and  a  series  of  most  abrupt  and  apparently  impas 
sable  mountains  and  ridges  covered  their  left.  Between 
these  points,  running  a  distance  of  two  or  three  miles,  a 
succession  of  strongly  fortified  forts  bristled  at  every 
turn,  and  seemed  to  defy  all  bravery  and  skill.  The 
Cerro  Gordo  commanded  tne  road  on  a  gentle  decima 
tion,  like  a  glacis,  for  nearly  a  mile — an  approach  in 
that  direction  was  impossible.  A  front  attack  must  have 
terminated  in  the  almost  entire  annihilation  of  our  army. 
But  the  enemy  expected  such  an  attack,  confiding  in  the 


THE   WAR.  145 

Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo. 


desperate  valour  of  our  men,  and  believing  that  it  was 
impossible  to  turn  their  position  to  the  right  or  left. 
General  Scott,  however,  with  the  eye  of  a  skilful  general, 
perceived  the  trap  set  for  him,  and  determined  to  avoid 
it.  He,  therefore,  had  a  road  cut  to  the  right,  so  as  to 
escape  the  front  fire  from  the  Sierra,  and  turn  his  position 
on  the  left  flank.  This  movement  was  made  known  to 
the  enemy  by  a  deserter  from  our  camp,  and  consequently 
a  large  increase  of  force  under  General  Vega  was  sent  to 
the  forts  on  their  left.  General  Scott,  to  cover  his  flank 
movements,  on  the  17th  of  April,  ordered  forward 
General  Twiggs  against  the  fort  on  the  steep  ascent,  in 
front  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  Sierra.  Colonel  Har- 
ney  commanded  this  expedition,  and,  at  the  head  of  the 
rifles  and  some  detachments  of  infantry  and  artillery, 
carried  his  position  under  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  and 
musketry.  Having  secured  this  position  in  front  and 
near  the  enemy's  strongest  fortification,  and  having  by 
incredible  labour  elevated  one  of  our  large  guns  to  the 
top  of  the  fort,  General  Scott  prepared  to  follow  up  his 
advantages.  A  demonstration  was  made  from  this  posi 
tion  against  another  strong  fort  in  the  rear,  and  near  the 
Sierra,  but  the  enemy  were  considered  too  strong  and 
the  undertaking  was  abandoned.  A  like  demonstration 
was  made  by  the  enemy." 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  army  moved  to  the 
attack  in  columns,  and  their  success  was  rapid  and  de 
cisive.  General  Twiggs's  division  assaulted  the  enemy's 
left,  where  he  had  remained  during  the  night,  and,  after 
a  slight  resistance,  carried  the  breastwork  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet,  and  completely  routed  its  defenders. 
Meanwhile  Pillow's  brigade,  accompanied  by  General 
1 


146  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo. 

Shields,  moved  rapidly  along  the  Jalapa  road,  and  took 
up  a  position  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the  Mexicans. 
At  the  same  time  General  Worth  pushed  forward  toward 
the  left,  to  aid  the  movement  of  Twiggs.  The  rout  was 
total.  Three  thousand  men,  with  field  and  other  officers, 
surrendered,  and  an  immense  amount  of  small  arms, 
ordnance  and  batteries,  were  also  captured.  About  six 
thousand  Mexicans  gained  the  rear  of  the  Americans  on 
the  Jalapa  road,  but  were  closely  pursued.  The  Ame 
ricans  lost  two  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed  and  wounded — 
among  the  latter,  General  Shields ;  the  loss  of  the  Mexi 
cans,  exclusive  of  prisoners,  was  about  one  hundred  more. 

The  following  description  of  Twiggs's  attack  upon 
the  Mexican  fort,  is  from  the  account  of  an  eye-witness : 

"On  the  18th,  General  Twiggs  was  ordered  forward 
from  the  position  he  had  already  captured,  against  the 
fort  which  commanded  the  Sierra.  Simultaneously  an 
attack  on  the  fortifications  on  the  enemy's  left  was  to  be 
made  by  Generals  Shields  and  Worth's  divisions,  who 
moved  in  separate  columns,  while  General  Pillow  ad 
vanced  against  the  strong  forts  and  difficult  ascents  on 
the  right  of  the  enemy's  position.  The  enemy,  fully 
acquainted  with  General  Scott's  intended  movement, 
had  thrown  large  bodies  of  men  into  the  various  posi 
tions  to  be  attacked.  The  most  serious  enterprise  was 
that  of  Twiggs,  who  advanced  against  the  main  fort  that 
commanded  the  Sierra.  Nothing  can  be  conceived  more 
difficult  than  this  undertaking.  The  steep  and  rough 
character  of  the  ground,  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy 
in  front,  and  the  cross  fire  of  the  forts  and  batteries 
which  enfiladed  our  lines,  "made  the  duty  assigned  to 
General  Twiggs  one  of  surpassing  difficulty. 


THE    WAR.  149 

Battle  of  Ceiro  Gordo. 


Nothing  prevented  our  men  from  being  utterly  de 
stroyed  but  the  steepness  of  the  ascent  under  which  they 
COL  'd  shelter.     But  they  sought  no  shelter,  and  onward 
rushed  against  a  hailstorm  of  balls  and  musket-shot,  led 
by  the  gallant  Harney,  whose  noble  bearing  elicited 
the  applause  of  the  whole  army.     His  conspicuous  and 
stalwart  frame  at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  his  long  arm 
waving  his  men  on  to  the  charge,  his  sturdy  voice  ring 
ing  above  the  clash  of  arms  and  din  of  conflict,  attracted 
the  attention  and  admiration  alike  of  the  enemy  and  of 
our  own  men.     On,  on,  he  led  the  columns,  whose  front 
lines  melted  before  the  enemy's  fire  like  snow-flakes  in  a 
torrent,  and  stayed  not  their  course  until  leaping  over  the 
rocky  barriers,  and  bayoneting  their  gunners,  they  drove 
the  enemy  pellmell  from  the  fort,  delivering  a  deadly 
fire  into  their  ranks,  from  their  own  guns,  as  they  hastily 
retired.      This  was  truly  a  gallant  deed,  worthy  the 
Chevalier  Bayard  of  our  army,  as  the  intrepid  Harney 
is  well  styled.    General  Scott,  between  whom  and  Colo 
nel  Harney  there  had  existed  some  coolness,  rode  up  to 
the  colonel  after  this  achievement,  and  remarked  to  him — 
1  Colonel  Harney,  I  cannot  now  adequately  express  my 
admiration  of  your  gallant  achievement,  but  at  the  proper 
time  I  shall  take  great  pleasure  in  thanking  you  in  proper 
terms.'  Harney,  with  the  modesty  of  true  valour,  claimed 
the  praise  as  due  to  his  officers  and  men.    Thus  did  the 
division  of  the  gallant  veteran,  Twiggs,  carry  the  main 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  occupy  the  front  which  com 
manded  the  road.  It  was  here  the  enemy  received  their 
heaviest  loss,  and  their  general,  Vasquez,  was  killed.  A 
little  after,  General  Worth,  having,  by  great  exertions, 
passed  the  steep  and  craggy  heights  on  the  enemy's  left, 


150  THE   WAR. 

Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo. 


summoned  a  strong  fort  in  the  rear  of  the  Sierra  to  sur 
render.  This  fort  was  manned  by  a  large  force  under 
General  Pinzon,  a  mulatto  officer  of  considerable  ability 
and  courage,  who,  seeing  the  Sierra  carried,  thought 
it  prudent  to  surrender,  which  he  did  with  all  his  force. 
General  Shields  was  not  so  fortunate  in  the  battery 
which  he  attacked,  and  which  was  commanded  by  Ge 
neral  La  Vega.  A  heavy  fire  was  opened  on  him,  under 
which  the  fort  was  carried  with  some  loss  by  the  gallant 
Ulinoisians,  under  Baker  and  Bennett,  supported  by  the 
New  Yorkers,  under  Burnett.  Among  those  who  fell 
under  this  fire  was  the  gallant  general,  who  received  a 
grape-shot  through  his  lungs,  by  which  he  was  com 
pletely  paralyzed,  and  thrown  into  a  critical  and  dan 
gerous  state.  On  the  enemy's  right,  General  Pillow 
commenced  the  attack  against  the  strong  forts  near  the 
river.  The  Tennesseeans,  under  Haskell,  led  the  column, 
and  the  other  volunteer  regiments  followed.  This  column 
unexpectedly  encountered  a  heavy  fire  from  a  masked 
battery,  by  which  Haskell's  regiment  was  nearly  cut  to 
pieces,  and  the  other  volunteer  regiments  were  severely 
handled.  General  Pillow  withdrew  riis  men,  and  was 
preparing  for  another  attack,  when  the  operations  at  the 
other  points  having  proved  successful,  the  enemy  con 
cluded  to  surrender.  Thus  the  victory  was  complete, 
and  four  generals,  and  about  six  thousand  men,  were 
taken  prisoners  by  our  army.  One  of  their  principal 
generals  and  a  large  number  of  other  officers  killed.  The 
Mexican  force  on  this  occasion  certainly  exceeded  our 
own. 

According  to  the  account  of  the  captured  officers, 
Santa  Anna  had  in  his  lines  at  least  eight  thousand  men, 


THE    WAR.  153 


Twigg3  enters  Jalapa. 


and  without  the  intrenchments  about  six  thousand,  of 
\\Mch  a  third  was  cavalry.  The  army  was  composed 
of  the  best  soldiers  in  Mexico.  The  infantry  who  had 
fought  so  bravely  at  Buena  Vista,,  and  all  the  regular  ar 
tillerists  of  the  republic,  including  several  naval  officers, 
were  present.  Some  of  the  officers  whom  General  Scott 
released  at  the  capitulation  of  Vera  Cruz  without  extort 
ing  the  parole  on  account  of  their  gallantry,  were  found 
among  the  killed  and  wounded.  Of  the  latter  was  a 
gallant  young  officer  named  Halzinger,  a  German  by 
birth,  who  excited  the  admiration  of  our  army  during 
the  bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz,  by  seizing  a  flag  which 
had  been  cut  down  by  our  balls,  and  holding  it  in  his 
right  hand  until  a  staff  could  be  procured.  He  had  been 
released  by  General  Scott  without  a  parole,  and  was 
found  on  the  field  of  Cerro  Gordo  dangerously  wounded. 
In  addition  to  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  taken 
they  lost  about  thirty  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  mostly  of 
large  calibre,  manufactured  at  the  royal  foundry  of  Se 
ville.  A  large  quantity  of  fixed  ammunition,  of  a  very 
superior  quality,  together  with  the  private  baggage  and 
money-chest  of  Santa  Anna,  containing  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  was  also  captured." 

Leaving  the  scene  of  this  great  victory  the  army 
moved  forward  towards  the  capital.  On  the  19th  of  April, 
General  Twiggs  took  the  city  of  Jalapa  with  one  de 
tachment,  and  on  the  22d,  another  under  General  Worth 
entered  the  city  of  Perote,  where,  to  use  the  words  of 
a  humorous  writer,  "  an  officer  politely  handed  over  the 
keys  of  the  well-known  castle  and  prison,  bowed,  and 
followed  the  footsteps  of  his  twice- whipped  excel 
lency." 

7* 


154  THE    WAR. 

"Worth,  enters  Puebla. 


"  The  enemy's  forces  had  all  left  that  place,  and  oui 
general  took  possession  of  the  castle,  with  its  arma 
ment  in  perfect  order.  Colonel  Velasques  had  been  left 
behind  to  surrender  all  things  in  the  name  of  the  go 
vernment.  Fifty  cannons,  three  mortars,  four  stone 
mortars,  and  four  or  five  howitzers,  together  with  a  large 
number  of  round  shot  and  shells,  and  great  quantities 
of  other  ammunition,  and  small  arms  were  delivered  up 
to  us.  Generals  Morales  and  Landero,  who  had  been 
imprisoned  by  Santa  Anna  for  capitulating  at  Vera  Cruz, 
were  released  on  the  appearance  of  the  Americans. 
Two  South  Carolina  volunteers,  and  an  American 
sailor,  taken  near  Vera  Cruz,  were  prisoners  in  the  castle, 
and  of  course  released  by  our  troops.  Ampudia  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  Perote  on  the  approach  of  General 
Worth,  but  had  not  the  politeness  to  visit  him  before 
taking  his  departure,  which  is  said  to  have  been  hurried. 
Some  two  or  three  thousand  infantry  and  cavalry  of  the 
enemy  were  also  in  the  neighbourhood  at  the  time. 

On  the  road  the  inhabitants  complained  bitterly  of 
outrages  perpetrated  by  the  retreating  soldiers  from 
Cerro  Gordo,  and  many  of  them  had  left  their  homes." 

This  treatment  received  from  their  own  countrymen 
contrasted  strongly  with  that  experienced  from  their 
generous  foe.  Pushing  ,on  from  Perote,  General  Worth 
took  possession  on  the  15th  of  May  of  the  city  of  Pue 
bla,  Santa  Anna  retiring  before  him  with  nothing  more 
than  a  show  of  opposition. 

When  General  Worth  had  reached  a  point  some  miles 
distant  from  Puebla,  General  Santa  Anna  was  in  the 
city,  engaged  in  distributing  shoes  to  his  soldiers,  and  a 
detachment,  with  which  General  Worth  had  a  skirmish, 


THE    WAR.  157 


American  army  concentrated  at  Puetla. 


was  sent  out  by  him  to  delay  the  advance.  General 
Worth  advanced  so  rapidly,  however,  as  to  enter  the 
city  almost  directly  behind  the  flying  cavalry,  and  Gene 
ral  Santa  Anna  was  obliged  to  retire  in  all  haste,  leaving 
many  of  his  soldiers  to  run  barefoot.  He  marched  di 
rectly  to  the  capital,  issuing  on  the  march,  at  Ayotla,  an 
address,  perhaps  the  most  ingenious  Mexican  document 
occasioned  by  the  present  war,  offering  to  resign  all 
power,  but  suggesting  at  the  same  time  a  plan  by  which 
he  hoped  to  conduct  the  war  to  a  successful  termination. 
Of  course  the  answer  to  this  letter  was  an  entire  acqui 
escence  in  the  views  of  Santa  Anna  by  the  president 
substitute,  an  invitation  to  the  capital,  and  its  conse 
quence,  the  assumption  of  supreme  power.  Santa  Anna 
left  the  army  to  follow,  and  with  some  officers  entered 
the  capital,  and  commenced  making  preparations  for  its 
defense.  In  May  he  left  the  city  and  maneuvered  about, 
threatening  an  attack  on  Vera  Cruz,  but  returned  with 
out  effecting  any  thing. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  General  Scott  concentrated 
his  army  at  Puebla,  and  prepared  to  advance  upon  the 
capital  itself.  The  history  of  his  operations  is  given  with 
great  perspicacity  in  his  official  despatches.  We  quote 
them  in  preference  to  following  the  statements  made  by 
others,  because  as  the  head  of  the  army,  all  its  opera 
tions  come  under  his  control  and  knowledge,  and  the 
account  of  them  which  he  gives  is  naturally  more  com 
prehensive  than  those  of  other  officers  or  observers, 
however  valuable  the  latter  may  be  as  testimonials  of 
individual  gallantry.  Writing  on  the  19th  of  August, 
nine  miles  from  Mexico,  he  states  that — 

"  Leaving  a  competent  garrison  in  Puebla,  the  Ame- 


158  THE   WAR. 

Heconnoisaances  upon  the  Penon. 

rican  army  advanced  upon  the  capital  by  divisions, 
becoming  more  closely  approximated  as  they  descended 
into  the  basin  of  the  capital  (seventy-five  miles  from 
Puebla)  about  the  head  of  Lake  Chalco,  with  Lake 
Tescuco  a  little  in  front  and  to  the  right.  On  the  12th 
and  13th  we  pushed  reconnoissances  upon  the  Penon, 
an  isolated  mound  (eight  miles  from  Mexico)  of  great 
height,  strongly  fortified  to  the  top  (three  tiers  of  works) 
and  flooded  around  the  base  by  the  season  of  rains  and 
sluices  from  the  lakes.  This  mound,  close  to  the  national 
road,  commands  the  principal  approach  to  the  city  from 
the  east.  No  doubt  it  might  have  been  carried,  but  at  a 
great  and  disproportionate  loss,  and  I  was  anxious  to 
spare  the  lives  of  this  gallant  army  for  a  general  battle 
which  I  knew  we  had  to  win  before  capturing  the  city, 
or  obtaining  the  object  of  the  campaign — a  just  and 
honourable  peace. 

Another  reconnoissance  was  directed  (13th)  upon 
Mexicalcingo,  to  the  left  of  the  Penon,  a  village  at  a 
fortified  bridge  across  the  outlet  or  canal,  leading  from 
Lake  Jochimilco  to  the  capital — five  miles  from  the  lat 
ter.  It  might  have  been  easy  (masking  the  Penon)  to 
force  the  passage ;  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  bridge 
we  should  have  found  ourselves  four  miles  from  this 
road,  on  a  narrow  causeway,  flanked  to  the  right  and 
left  by  water  or  boggy  grounds.  Those  difficulties, 
closely  viewed,  threw  me  back  upon  the  project,  long 
entertained,  of  turning  the  strong  eastern  defenses  of  the 
city,  by  passing  around  south  of  Lake  Chalco  and  Jo 
chimilco,  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  and  mountains,  so  as  to 
reach  this  point,  and  hence  to  maneuver,  on  hard  ground, 
though  much  broken,  to  the  south  and  south-west  of  the 


THE     WAR.  159 

Twites  defeats  "Valencia. 


capital,  which  has  been  more  or  less  under  our  view, 
since  the  10th  instant. 

Accordingly,  Worth's  division,  with  Harney's  cavalry 
brigade  leading — we  marched  on  the  15th  instant.  Pil 
low's  and  Quitman's  divisions  followed  closely,  and  then 
Twiggs's  division,  which  was  left  till  the  next  day  at 
Ayotla,  in  order  to  threaten  the  Penon  and  Mexicalcingo, 
and  to  deceive  the  enemy  as  long  as  practicable. 

Twiggs,  on  the  16th,  marching  from  Ayotla  towards 
Chalco,  (six  miles,)  met  a  corps  of  more  than  double  his 
number — cavalry  and  infantry — under  General  Valencia. 
Twiggs  halted,  deployed  into  line,  and  by  a  few  rounds 
from  Captain  Taylor's  field  battery,  dispersed  the  enemy, 
killing  and  wounding  many  men  and  horses.  No  other 
molestation  has  been  experienced  except  a  few  random 
shots  from  guerilleros,  on  the  height ;  and  the  march  of 
twenty-seven  miles,  over  a  route  deemed  impracticable 
by  the  enemy,  is  now  accomplished  by  all  the  corps — 
thanks  to  their  indomitable  zeal  and  physical  prowess. 

Arriving  here,  the  18th,  Worth's  division  and  Harney's 
cavalry  were  pushed  forward  a  league,  to  reconnoiter 
and  to  carry  or  to  mask  San  Antonio,  on  the  direct  road 
to  the  capital.  This  village  was  found  strongly  defended 
by  field-works,  heavy  guns,  and  a  numerous  garrison. 
It  could  only  be  turned  by  infantry,  to  the  left,  over  a 
field  of  volcanic  rocks  and  lava ;  for,  to  our  right,  the 
ground  was  too  boggy.  It  was  soon  ascertained,  by  the 
daring  engineers,  Captain  Mason,  and  Lieutenants  Ste 
vens  and  Tower,  that  the  point  could  only  be  approached 
by  the  front,  over  a  narrow  causeway,  flanked  with  wet 
ditches  of  great  depth.  Worth  was  ordered  not  to 
attack,  but  to  threaten  and  to  mask  the  place. 


ICO  THE    WAR. 

Death  of  Captain  Thornton. 

The  first  shot  fired  from  San  Antonio  (the  8th)  killed 
Captain  S.  Thornton,  2d  dragoons,  a  gallant  officer,  who 
was  covering  the  operations  with  his  company. 

The  same  day,  a  reconnoissance  was  commenced  to 
the  left  of  San  Augustin,  first  over  difficult  mounds,  and 
farther  on,  over  the  same  field  of  volcanic  rocks  and 
lava  which  extends  to  the  mountains,  some  five  miles 
from  San  Antonio,  towards  Magdalena.  This  recon 
noissance  was  continued  to-day,  by  Captain  Lee,  assisted 
by  Lieutenants  Beauregard  and  Tower,  all  of  the  engi 
neers;  who  were  joined,  in  the  afternoon,  by  Major 
Smith  of  the  same  corps.  Other  divisions  coming  up, 
Pillow's  was  advanced  to  make  a  practicable  road  for 
heavy  artillery,  and  Twiggs's  thrown  farther  in  front,  to 
cover  that  operation ;  for,  by  the  partial  reconnoissance 
of  yesterday,  Captain  Lee  discovered  a  large  corps  of 
observation  in  that  direction,  with  a  detachment  of 
which  his  supports  of  cavalry  and  foot  under  Captain 
Kearney  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Graham,  respectively, 
had  a  successful  skirmish. 

By  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  advanced  divisions 
came  to  a  point  where  the  new  road  could  only  be  con 
tinued  under  the  direct  fire  of  twenty-two  pieces  of  the 
enemy's  artillery,  (most  of  them  of  large  calibre,)  placed 
in  a  strong  intrenched  camp  to  oppose  our  operations, 
and  surrounded  by  every  advantage  of  ground,  besides 
immense  bodies  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  hourly  reinforced 
from  the  city,  over  an  excellent  road  beyond  the  vol 
canic  field,  and  consequently  entirely  beyond  the  reach 
of  our  cavalry  and  artillery. 

Arriving  on  the  ground,  an  hour  later,  I  found  that 
Pillow's  and  Twiggs's  divisions  had  advanced  to  dis- 


THE   \V  AR.  161 

Battle  of  San  Augustin. 


lodge  the  enemy,  picking  their  way  (all  officers  on  foot) 
along  his  front,  and  extending  themselves  towards  the 
road,  from  the  city  and  the  enemy's  left.  Captain  Ma- 
gruder's  field  battery,  of  twelve  and  six-pounders,  and 
Lieutenant  Callender's  battery  of  mounted  howitzers 
and  rockets,  had  also,  with  great  difficulty,  been  ad 
vanced  within  range  of  the  intrenched  camp.  These 
batteries,  most  gallantly  served,  suffered  much,  in  the 
course  of  the  afternoon,  from  the  enemy's  superior 
metal. 

The  battle,  though  mostly  stationary,  continued  to 
rage  with  great  violence,  until  nightfall.  Brevet  Briga 
dier-General  P.  F.  Smith's  and  Brevet  Colonel  Riley's 
brigades  (Twiggs's  division)  supported  by  Brigadier- 
Generals  Pierce's  and  Cadwalader's  brigades  (Pillow's 
division)  were  more  than  three  hours  under  a  heavy  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry,  along  the  almost  impassable 
ravine  in  front  and  to  the  left  of  the  intrenched  camp. 
Besides  the  twenty-two  pieces  of  artillery,  the  camp  and 
ravine  were  defended  closely  by  masses  of  infantry,  and 
these  again  supported  by  clouds  of  cavalry  at  hand  and 
hovering  in  view.  Consequently  no  decided  impression 
could  be  made  by  daylight,  on  the  enemy's  most  for 
midable  position,  because,  independent  of  the  difficulty 
of  the  ravine,  our  infantry,  unaccompanied  by  cavalry 
and  artillery,  could  not  advance  in  column  without  being 
mowed  down  by  the  grape  and  canister  of  the  batteries, 
nor  advance  in  line  without  being  ridden  over  by  the 
enemy's  numerous  cavalry.  All  our  corps,  however, 
including  Magruder's  and  Callender's  last  batteries,  not 
only  maintained  the  exposed  positions  early  gained,  but 
all  attempted  charges  upon  th<nn,  respectively — particu- 


162  THE    WAR. 

Occupation  of  Contreras. 

larly  on  Riley,  twice  closely  engaged  with  cavalry  in 
greatly  superior  numbers — were  repulsed  and  punished. 

From  an  eminence,  soon  after  arriving  near  the  scene, 
I  observed  the  church  and  hamlet  of  Contreras  (or  An- 
salda)  on  the  road  leading  up  from  the  capital,  through 
the  intrenched  camp  to  Magdalena,  and  seeing,  at  the 
same  time,  the  stream  of  reinforcements  advancing  by 
the  road,  from  the  city,  I  ordered  (through  Major-Gene 
ral  Pillow)  Colonel  Morgan,  with  his  regiment,  the  15th, 
till  then  held  in  reserve  by  Pillow,  to  move  forward,  and 
to  occupy  Contreras,  or  Ansalda, — being  persuaded,  if 
occupied,  it  would  arrest  the  enemy's  reinforcements 
and  ultimately  decide  the  battle. 

Riley  was  already  on  the  enemy's  left,  in  advance  of 
the  hamlet.  A  few  minutes  later,  Brigadier- General 
Shields,  with  his  volunteer  brigade,  (New  York  and 
South  Carolina  regiments,)  coming  up  under  my  orders 
from  San  Augustin,  I  directed  Shields  to  follow  and 
sustain  Morgan.  These  corps,  over  the  extreme  diffi 
culties  of  ground — partially  covered  with  a  low  forest — 
before  described,  reached  Contreras,  and  found  Cad- 
walader's  brigade,  in  position,  observing  the  formidable 
movement  from  the  capital  and  much  needing  the  timely 
reinforcement. 

It  was  already  dark,  and  the  cold  rain  had  begun  to 
fall  in  torrents  upon  our  unsheltered  troops ;  for  the 
hamlet,  though  a  strong  defensive  position,  can  hold 
only  the  wounded  men,  and,  unfortunately,  the  new 
regiments  have  little  or  nothing  to  eat  in  their  haver 
sacks.  Wet,  hungry,  and  without  the  possibility  of 
sleep,  all  our  gallant  corps,  I  learn,  are  full  of  confi 
dence,  and  only  wait  for  the  last  hour  of  darkness  to 


THE    WAR.  163 

Battle  of  Contreras. 


gain  the  positions  whence  to  storm  and  carry  the  enemy's 
works. 

Of  the  seven  officers  despatched,  since  about  sun 
down,  from  my  position,  opposite  to  the  enemy's  centre, 
and  on  this  side  of  the  field  of  rocks  and  lava — to  com 
municate  instructions  to  the  hamlet — not  one  has  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  through  those  difficulties,  increased 
by  darkness.  They  have  all  returned.  But  the  gallant 
and  indefatigable  Captain  Lee,  of  the  engineers,  who 
has  been  constantly  with  the  operating  forces,  is  just  in 
from  Shields,  Smith,  Cadwalader,  &c.,  to  report  as 
above,  and  to  ask  that  a  powerful  diversion  be  made 
against  the  centre  of  the  intrenched  camp  towards 
morning. 

Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  cut  off,  as  above,  from  the 
part  of  his  division  beyond  the  impracticable  ground, 
and  Captain  Lee  are  gone,  under  my  orders,  to  collect 
the  forces  remaining  on  this  side,  with  which  to  make 
that  diversion  about  five  o'clock,  in  the  morning." 

"  The  morning  of  the  20th  opened  with  one  of  a  series 
of  unsurpassed  achievements,  all  in  view  of  the  capital, 
and  to  which  I  shall  give  the  general  name — Battle  of 
Mexico. 

In  the  night  of  the  19th,  Brigadier-General  Shields, 
P.  F.  Smith,  and  Cadwalader,  and  Colonel  Riley,  with 
their  brigades,  and  the  15th  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Morgan,  detached  from  Brigadier-General  Pierce — found 
themselves  in  and  about  the  important  position — the 
village,  hamlet  or  hacienda,  called,  indifferently,  Con 
treras,  Ansalda  San  Geronimo — half  a  mile  nearer  to 
the  city  than  the  enemy's  intrenched  camp  on  the  same 
road,  towards  the  factory  of  Magdalena. 


164  THE    WAR. 


Battle  of  Contreras. 


That  camp  had  been,  unexpectedly,  our  formidable 
point  of  attack  the  afternoon  before,  and  we  had  now 
to  take  it,  without  the  aid  of  cavalry  or  artillery,  or  to 
throw  back  our  advanced  corps  upon  the  road  from  San 
Augustin  to  the  city,  and  thence  force  a  passage  through 
San  Antonio. 

Accordingly  to  meet  contingencies,  Major-General 
Worth  was  ordered  to  leave,  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  one  of  his  brigades  to  mask  San  Antonio,  and  to 
march  with  the  other  six  miles,  via  San  Augustin,  upon 
Contreras.  A  like  destination  was  given  to  Major-Gene 
ral  Quitman  and  his  remaining  brigade  in  San  Augustin 
— replacing,  for  the  moment,  the  garrison  of  that  im 
portant  depot  with  Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry,  as  horse 
could  not  pass  over  the  intervening  rocks,  &c.,  to  reach 
the  field  of  battle. 

A  diversion  for  an  earlier  hour  (daylight)  had  been 
arranged  the  night  before,  according  to  the  suggestion 
of  Brigadier-General  Smith,  received  through  the  engi 
neer,  Captain  Lee,  who  conveyed  my  orders  to  our 
troops  remaining  on  the  ground  opposite  to  the  enemy's 
centre — the  point  for  the  diversion  or  a  real  attack,  as 
circumstances  might  allow. 

Guided  by  Captain  Lee,  it  proved  the  latter  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Ransom,  of  the  9th,  having 
with  him  that  regiment  and  some  companies  of  three 
others — the  3d,  12th,  and  rifles. 

Shields,  the  senior  officer  at  the  hamlet,  having  arrived 
in  the  night,  after  Smith  had  arranged  with  Cadwalader 
and  Riley  the  plan  of  attack  for  the  morning,  delicately 
waived  interference  ;  but  reserved  to  himself  the  double 
task  of  holding  the  hamlet  with  his  two  regiments, 


General  Butler. 


THE    WAR.  167 

Battle  of  Contreias. 


(South  Carolina  and  New  York  volunteers,)  against  ten 
times,  his  numbers  on  the  side  of  the  city,  including  the 
slopes  to  his  left,  and,  in  case  the  camp  in  his  rear 
shoi.M  be  carried,  to  face  about  and  cut  off  the  flying 
enemy. 

At  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  great  movement  com 
menced  on  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  camp,  Riley  leading, 
followed  successively  by  Cadwalader's  and  Smith's  bri 
gades,  the  latter  temporarily  under  the  orders  of  Major 
Dimick  of  the  1st  artillery — the  whole  force  being  com 
manded  by  Smith,  the  senior  in  the  general  attack,  and 
whose  arrangements,  skill,  and  gallantry,  always  chal 
lenge  the  highest  admiration. 

The  march  was  rendered  tedious  by  the  darkness, 
rain,  and  mud ;  but  about  sunrise,  Riley,  conducted  by 
Lieutenant  Tower,  engineer,  had  reached  an  elevation 
behind  the  enemy,  whence  he  precipitated  his  columns ; — 
stormed  the  intr^nchments,  planted  his  several  colours 
upon  them,  and  carried  the  work — all  in  seventeen 
minutes. 

Conducted  by  Lieutenant  Beauregard,  engineer,  and 
Lieutenant  Brooks,  of  Twiggs's  staff,  both  of  whom,  like 
Lieutenant  Tower,  had,  in  the  night,  twice  reconnoitered 
the  ground — Cadwalader  brought  up  to  the  general  as 
sault,  two  of  his  regiments — the  voltigeurs  and  the  llth, 
and  at  the  appointed  time,  Colonel  Ransom,  with  his 
temporary  brigade,  conducted  by  Captain  Lee,  engineer, 
not  only  made  the  movement  to  divert  and  to  distract 
the  enemy;  but,  after  crossing  the  deep  ravine  in  his 
front,  advanced,  and  poured  into  the  works  and  upon 
the  fugitives,  many  volleys  from  his  destructive  musketry. 

In  the  mean  time  Smith's  own   brigade,  under  the 


168  TfiE   WAR. 

Battle  of  Contreras. 


temporary  command  of  Major  Dimick,  following  the 
movements  of  Riley  and  Cadwalader,  discovered,  oppo 
site  to,  and  outside  of  the  works,  a  long  line  of  Mexican 
cavalry,  drawn  up  as  a  support.  Dimick,  having  at  the 
head  of  the  brigade  the  company  of  sappers  and  miners, 
under  Lieutenant  Smith,  engineer,  who  had  conducted 
the  march,  was  ordered  by  Brigadier-General  Smith,  to 
form  line  faced  to  the  enemy,  and  in  a  charge  against  a 
flank,  routed  the  cavalry. 

Shields,  too,  by  the  wise  disposition  of  his  brigade 
and  gallant  activity,  contributed  much  to  the  general 
results.  He  held  masses  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  sup* 
ported  by  artillery,  in  check  below  him,  and  captured 
hundreds,  with  one  general,  (Mendoza,)  of  those  who 
fled  from  above. 

I  doubt  whether  a  more  brilliant  or  decisive  victory — 
taking  into  view,  ground,  artificial  defenses,  batteries, 
and  the  extreme  disparity  of  numbers — without  cavalry 
or  artillery  on  our  side — is  to  be  found  on  record.  In 
cluding  all  our  corps  directed  against  the  intrenched 
camp,  with  Shields's  brigade  at  the  hamlet,  we  positively 
did  not  number  over  four  thousand  five  hundred  rank 
and  file ;  and  we  know,  by  sight  and  since,  more  cer 
tainly  by  many  captured  documents  and  letters,  that  the 
enemy  had  actually  engaged  on  the  spot  seven  thousand 
men,  with  at  least  twelve  thousand  more  hovering  with 
in  sight,  and  striking  distance — both  on  the  16th  and 
20th.  All,  not  killed  or  captured,  now  fled  with  pre 
cipitation. 

Thus  was  the  great  victory  of  Contreras  achieved; 
one  road  to  the  capital  opened ;  seven  hundred  of  the 
enemy  killed ;  eight  hundred  and  forty-three  prisoners, 


THE    WAR.  169 

Results  of  the  battle. 


including,  among  eighty-eight  officers,  four  generals; 
besides  many  colours  and  standards ;  twenty-two  pieces 
of  brass  ordnance — hah0  of  large  calibre  ;  thousands  of 
small  arms  and  accoutrements ;  an  immense  quantity  of 
shot,  shells,  powder,  and  cartridges;  seven  hundred 
pack  mules,  many  horses,  &c.,  all  in  our  hands. 

It  is  highly  gratifying  to  find  that,  by  skilful  arrange 
ment,  and  rapidity  of  execution,  our  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded,  did  not  exceed,  on  the  spot,  sixty — among 
the  former  the  brave  Captain  Charles  Hanson,  of  the  7th 
infantry — not  more  distinguished  for  gallantry,  than  for 
modesty,  morals,  and  piety.  Lieutenant  J.  P.  Johnstone, 
1st  artillery,  serving  with  Magruder's  battery — a  young 
officer  of  the  highest  promise,  was  killed  the  evening 
before. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  incidents  of  the  victory  is 
the  recapture,  in  the  works,  by  Captain  Drum,  4th  ar 
tillery,  under  Major  Gardner,  of  the  two  brass  six 
pounders,  taken  from  another  company  of  the  same 
regiment,  though  without  the  loss  of  honour,  at  the 
glorious  battle  of  Buena  Vista — about  which  guns  the 
whole  regiment  had  mourned  for  so  many  long  months ! 
Coming  up,  a  little  later,  I  had  the  happiness  to  join  in 
the  protracted  cheers  of  the  gallant  4th  on  the  joyous 
event,  and,  indeed,  the  whole  army  sympathizes  in  its 
just  pride  and  exultation. 

The  battle  being  won  before  the  advancing  brigades 
of  Worth's  and  Quitman's  divisions  were  in  sight,  both 
were  ordered  back  to  their  late  positions — Worth,  to 
attack  San  Antonio,  in  front,  with  his  whole  force,  as 
soon  as  approached  in  the  rear,  by  Pillow's  an  1  Twiggs's 
divisions — moving  from  Contreras,  through  San  Angel 

8 


170  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Churubusco. 


and  Coyoacan.  By  carrying  San  Antonio  we  knew  that 
we  should  open,  another — a  shorter  and  better  road  to 
the  capital,  for  our  siege  and  other  trains. 

Accordingly,  the  two  advanced  divisions  and  Shields's 
brigade  marched  from  Contreras,  under  the  immediate 
orders  of  Major-General  Pillow,  who  was  now  joined  by 
the  gallant  Brigadier- General  Pierce  of  his  division,  per 
sonally  thrown  out  of  activity,  late  the  evening  before, 
by  a  severe  hurt  received  from  the  fall  of  his  horse. 

After  giving  necessary  orders  on  the  field,  in  the 
midst  of  prisoners  and  trophies,  and  sending  instruc 
tions  to  Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry,  left  at  San  Augustin, 
to  join  me,  I  personally  followed  Pillow's  movement. 

Arriving  at  Coyoacan,  two  miles  by  a  cross  road,  from 
the  rear  of  San  Antonio,  I  first  detached  Captain  Lee, 
engineer,  with  Captain  Kearney's  troop,  1st  dragoons, 
supported  by  the  rifle  regiment,  under  Major  Loring,  to 
reconnoiter  that  strong  point,  and  next  despatched  Ma 
jor-General  Pillow,  with  one  of  his  brigades  (Cadwala- 
der's)  to  make  the  attack  upon  it,  in  concert  with  Major- 
General  Worth,  on  the  opposite  side. 

At  the  same  time,  by  another  road  to  the  left,  Lieute 
nant  Stevens,  of  the  engineers,  supported  by  Lieutenant 
G.  W.  Smith's  company  of  sappers  and  miners,  of  the 
same  corps,  was  sent  to  reconnoiter  the  strongly  forti 
fied  church  or  convent  of  San  Pablo,  in  the  hamlet  of 
Churubusco — one  mile  off.  Twiggs  with  one  of  the 
brigades,  and  Captain  Taylor's  field  battery,  were  ordered 
to  follow  and  attack  the  convent.  Major  Smith,  senior 
engineer,  was  despatched  to  concert  with  Twiggs  the 
mode  and  means  of  attack,  and  Twiggs's  other  brigade, 
I  soon  ordered  up  to  support  him. 


THE     WAR.  171 

Battle  of  Churubusco. 

Next  (but  all  in  ten  minutes)  I  sent  Pierce  (just  able 
to  keep  the  saddle)  with  his  brigade  (Pillow's  division) 
conducted  by  Captain  Lee,  engineer,  by  a  third  road, 
a  little  farthei  to  our  left,  to  attack  the  enemy's  right 
and  rear,  in  order  to  favour  the  movement  upon  thS  con 
vent  and  cut  off  the  retreat  towards  the  capital.  And 
finally,  Shields,  senior  brigadier  to  Pierce,  with  the  New 
York  and  South  Carolina  volunteers,  (Quitman's  divi 
sion,)  was  ordered  to  follow  Pierce,  closely,  and  to  take 
the  command  of  our  left  wing.  All  these  movements 
were  made  with  the  utmost  alacrity  by  our  gallant  troops 
and  commanders. 

Finding  myself  at  Coyoacan,  from  which  so  many  roads 
conveniently  branched,  without  escort  or  reserve,  I  had 
to  advance,  for  safety,  close  upon  Twiggs's  rear.  The 
battle  now  raged  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  our  whole 
line. 

Learning,  on  the  return  of  Captain  Lee,  that  Shields, 
in  the  rear  of  Churubusco,  was  hard  pressed,  and  in 
danger  of  being  outflanked,  if  not  overwhelmed,  by 
greatly  superior  numbers,  I  immediately  sent,  under 
Major  Sumner,  2d  dragoons,  the  rifles,  (Twiggs's 
reserve,)  and  Captain  Sibley's  troop,  2d  dragoons, 
then  at  hand,  to  support  our  left,  guided  by  the  same 
engineer. 

About  an  hour  earlier,  Worth  had,  by  skilful  and 
daring  movements  upon  the  front  and  right,  turned  and 
forced  San  Antonio — its  garrison,  no  doubt,  much 
shaken  by  our  decisive  victory  at  Contieras. 

His  second  brigade,  (Colonel  Clarke's,)  conducted  by 
Captain  Mason,  engineer,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Hard- 
castle,  topographical  engineer,  turned  the  right,  and  by 


172  THE    WAR. 


Battle  of  Churubusco. 


a  wide  sweep,  came  out  upon  the  high  road  to  the  capi 
tal.  At  this  point,  the  heavy  garrison  (three  thousand 
men)  in  retreat,  was,  by  Clarke  cut  in  the  centre :  one 
portion,  the  rear  driven  upon  Dolores,  off  to  the  right ; 
and  the  other  upon  Churubusco,  in  the  direct  line  of  our 
operation*.  The  first  brigade,  (Colonel  Garland's,)  same 
division,  consisting  of  the  second  artillery,  under  Major 
Gait,  the  3d  artillery,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Belton, 
and  the  4th  infantry,  commanded  by  Major  F.  Lee,  with 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan's  field  battery  (temporarily) 
followed  in  pursuit  through  the  town,  taking  one  gene 
ral  prisoner,  the  abandoned  guns,  (five  pieces,)  much 
ammunition  and  other  public  property. 

The  forcing  of  San  Antonio  was  the  second  brilliant 
event  of  the  day. 

Worth's  division  being  soon  reunited  in  hot  pursuit,  he 
was  joined  by  Major-General  Pillow,  who,  marching 
from  Coyoacan  and  discovering  that  San  Antonio  had 
been  carried,  immediately  turned  to  the  left,  according 
to  my  instruction,  and  though  much  impeded  by  ditches 
and  swamps,  hastened  to  the  attack  of  Churubusco. 

The  hamlet  or  scattered  houses,  bearing  this  name, 
presented,  besides  the  fortified  convent,  a  strong  field- 
work,  (tete  de  pont]  with  regular  bastions  and  curtains, 
at  the  head  of  a  bridge,  over  which  the  road  passes  from 
San  Antonio  to  the  capital. 

The  whole  remaining  forces  of  Mexico — some  twenty- 
seven  thousand  men — cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry, 
collected  from  every  quarter — were  now  in,  on  the 
flanks  or  within  supporting  distance  of  those  works,  and 
seemed  resolved  to  make  a  last  and  desperate  stand  ;  for 
if  beaten  here,  the  feebler  defenses  at  the  gates  of  the 


THE   WAR.  173 

Battle  of  Churubusco. 

city — four  miles  off — could  not,  as  was  well  known  to 
both  parties,  delay  the  victors  an  hour.  The  capital  of 
an  ancient  empire,  now  of  a  great  republic ;  or  an  early 
peace,  the  assailants  were  resolved  to  win.  Not  an 
American — and  we  were  less  than  a  third  of  the  enemy's 
numbers — had  a  doubt  as  to  the  result. 

The  fortified  church  or  convent,  hotly  pressed  by 
Twiggs,  had  already  held  out  about  an  hour,  when 
Worth  and  Pillow — the  latter  having  with  him  only 
Cadwalader's  brigade — began  to  manoeuver  upon  the 
tete  de  pont,  with  the  convent  at  half  gun-shot,  to  their 
left.  Garland's  brigade,  (Worth's  division,)  to  which 
had  been  added  the  light  battalion  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Smith,  continued  to  advance  in  front,  and  under 
the  fire  of  a  long  line  of  infantry,  off  on  the  left  of  the 
brigade  ;  and  Clarke,  of  the  same  division,  directed  his 
brigade  along  the  road  or  close  by  its  side.  Two  of 
Pillow's  and  Cadwalader's  regiments,  the  llth  and  14th, 
supported  and  participated  in  this  direct  movement :  the 
other  (the  voltigeurs)  was  left  in  reserve.  Most  of  these 
corps — particularly  Clarke's  brigade,  advancing  perpen 
dicularly — were  made  to  suffer  much  by  the  fire  of  the 
tete  de  pont,  and  they  would  have  suffered  greatly  more 
by  flank  attacks  from  the  convent,  but  for  the  pressure 
of  Twiggs  on  the  other  side  of  that  work. 

This  well-combined  and  daring  movement,  at  length 
reached  the  principal  point  of  attack,  and  the  formidable 
tete  de  pont,  was,  at  once,  assaulted  and  carried  by  the 
bayonet.  Its  deep  wet  ditch  was  first  gallantly  crossed 
by  the  8th  and  5th  infantry,  commanded  respectively  by 
Major  Waite  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Scott — followed 
closely,  by  the  6th  infantry,  (same  brigade)  which  had 


174  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Churubusco. 


been  so  much  exposed  in  the  road — the  llth  regiment, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Graham,  and  the  14th,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Trousdale,  both  of  Cadwalader's 
brigade,  Pillow's  division.  About  the  same  time,  the 
enemy,  in  front  of  Garland,  after  a  hot  conflict  of  an 
hour  and  a  half,  gave  way,  in  a  retreat  towards  the 
capital. 

The  immediate  result  of  this  third  signal  triumph  of 
the  day  were  three  field-pieces,  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  prisoners,  much  ammunition  and  two  colours,  taken 
in  the  tete  de  pont. 

As  the  concurrent  attack  upon  the  convent  favoured 
physically  and  morally,  the  assault  upon  the  tete  de  pont, 
so,  reciprocally,  no  doubt,  the  fall  of  the  latter,  contri 
buted  to  the  capture  of  the  former.  The  two  works 
were  only  some  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards  apart ;  and 
as  soon  as  we  were  in  possession  of  the  tete  depont,  a  cap 
tured  four-pounder  was  turned  and  fired — first  by  Captain 
Larkin  Smith,  and  next  by  Lieutenant  Snelling,  both  of 
the  8th  infantry — several  times  upon  the  convent.  In 
the  same  brief  interval,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan, 
(also  of  Worth's  division,)  gallantly  brought  two  of  his 
guns  to  bear,  at  a  short  range,  from  the  San  Antonio 
road,  upon  the  principal  face  of  the  work,  and  on  the 
tower  of  the  church,  which,  in  the  obstinate  contest  had 
been  often  refilled  with  some  of  the  best  sharp-shooters 
of  the  enemy. 

Finally,  twenty  minutes  after  the  tete  de  pont  had  been 
carried  by  Worth  and  Pillow,  and  at  the  end  of  a  des 
perate  conflict  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  church  or 
convent — the  citadel  of  the  strong  line  of  defense  along 
the  rivulet  of  Churubusco— yielded  to  Twiggs's  division, 


THE    WAR.  177 

Battle  of  Churubusco. 

and  threw  out,  on  all  sides,  signals  of  surrender.  The 
white  flags,  however,  were  not  exhibited  until  the  mo 
ment  when  the  3d  infantry,  under  Captain  Alexander, 
had  cleared  the  way  by  fire  and  bayonet,  and  had 
entered  the  work.  Captain  J.  M.  Smith  and  Lieutenant 
0.  L.  Shepherd,  both  of  that  regiment  with  their  com 
panies,  had  the  glory  of  leading  the  assault.  The  formei 
received  the  surrendf  r,  and  Captain  A  lexander  instantly 
hung  out  from  a  balcony,  the  colours  of  the  gallant  3d. 
Major  Dimick,  with  a  part  of  the  1st  artillery,  serving 
as  infantry,  entered  nearly  abreast  with  the  leading 
troops. 

Lieutenant  J.  F.  Irons,  1st  artillery,  aid-de-camp  to 
Brigadier-General  Cadwalader,  a  young  officer  of  great 
merit,  and  conspicuous  in  battle,  on  several  previous 
occasions,  received,  in  front  of  the  work,  a  mortal 
wound.  (Since  dead.) 

Captain  Taylor's  field  battery,  attached  to  Twiggs's  di 
vision,  opened  its  effective  fire,  at  an  early  moment,  upon 
the  out- works  of  the  convent  and  the  tower  of  its  church. 
Exposed  to  the  severest  fire  of  the  enemy,  the  captain, 
his  officers  and  men,  won  universal  admiration ;  but  at 
length  much  disabled  in  men  and  horses,  the  battery 
was,  by  superior  orders,  withdrawn  from  the  action  thirty 
minutes  before  the  surrender  of  the  convent. 

These  corps,  excepting  Taylor's  battery,  belonged  to 
the  brigade  of  Brigadier-General  Smith,  who  closely 
directed  the  whole  attack  in  front,  with  his  habitual 
coolness  and  ability ;  while  Riley's  brigade — the  2d 
and  7th  infantry,  under  Captain  T.  Morris  and  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Plympton,  respectively,  vigorously  en 
gaged  the  right  of  the  work  and  part  of  its  rear.  At  the 

8* 


178  THE    WAR. 

The  fourth  victory. 


moment,  the  rifles,  belonging  to  Smith's,  were  detached 
in  support  of  Brigadier- General  Shields  on  our  extreme 
left,  and  the  4th  artillery,  acting  as  infantry,  under 
Major  Gardner,  belonging  to  Riley's  brigade  had  been 
left  in  charge  of  the  camp,  trophies,  &c.,  at  Contreras. 
Twiggs's  division,  at  Churubusco,  had  thus  been  deprived 
of  the  services  of  two  of  its  most  gallant  and  effective 
regiments. 

The  immediate  results  of  this  victory  were  : — the  cap 
ture  of  seven  field-pieces,  some  ammunition,  one  colour, 
three  generals,  and  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  prisoners,  including  other  officers. 

The  capture  of  the  enemy's  citadel  was  the  fourth 
great  achievement  of  our  arms  in  the  same  day. 

It  has  been  stated  that,  some  two  hours  and  half  be 
fore,  Pierce's,  followed  closely  by  the  volunteer  brigade, 
both  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Shields, 
had  been  detached  to  our  left  to  turn  the  enemy's  works  ; 
— to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  garrisons,  and  to  oppose 
the  extension  of  the  enemy's  numerous  corps,  from  the 
rear,  upon  and  around  our  left. 

Considering  the  inferior  numbers  of  the  two  brigades, 
the  objects  of  the  movement  were  difficult  to  accom 
plish.  Hence  the  reinforcement  (the  rifles,  &c.,)  sent 
forward  a  little  later. 

In  a  winding  march  of  a  mile  around  to  the  right,  this 
temporary  division  found  itself  on  the  edge  of  an  open 
wet  meadow,  near  the  road  from  San  Antonio  to  the 
capital,  and  in  the  presence  of  some  four  thousand  of  the 
enemy's  infantry,  a  little  in  rear  of  Churubusco,  on 
that  road.  Establishing  the  right  at  a  strong  building, 
Shields  extended  his  left,  parrallel  to  the  road,  tj  out- 


THE    WAR.  179 

-*Tbe  fifth  victory. 


flank  the  enemy  towards  the  capital.  But  the  enemy 
extending  his  right,  supported  by  three  thousand  cavalry, 
more  rapidly,  (being  favoured  with  better  ground,)  in 
the  same  direction,  Shields  concentrated  the  division 
about  a  hamlet,  and  determined  to  attack  in  front.  The 
battle  was  long,  hot,  and  varied  ;  but  ultimately  success 
crowned  the  zeal  and  gallantry  of  our  troops,  ably 
directed  by  their  distinguished  commander,  Brigadier- 
General  Shields.  The  9th,  12th,  and  15th  regiments, 
under  Colonel  Ransom,  Captain  Wood  and  Colonel 
Morgan,  respectively,  of  Pierce's  brigade,  (Pillow's  divi 
sion,)  and  the  New  York  and  South  Carolina  volunteers, 
under  Colonels  Burnett  and  Butler,  respectively,  of 
Shields's  own  brigade,  (Quitman's  division,)  together 
with  the  mountain  howitzer  battery,  now  under  Lieu 
tenant  Reno,  of  the  ordnance  corps,  all  shared  in  the 
glory  of  this  action — our  fifth  victory  in  the  same  day. 
Brigadier- General  Pierce,  from  the  hurt  of  the  even 
ing  before — xmder  pain  and  exhaustion — fainted  in  the 
action.  Several  other  changes  in  command,  occurred 
on  this  field.  Thus,  Colonel  Morgan,  being  severely 
wounded,  the  command  of  the  15th  infantry  devolved 
on  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard.  Colonel  Burnet,  re 
ceiving  a  like  wound,  the  command  of  the  New  York 
volunteers  fell  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baxter;  and,  on 
the  fall  of  the  lamented  Colonel  P.  M.  Butler — earlier 
badly  wounded,  but  continuing  to  lead  nobly  in  the 
hottest  part  of  the  battle — the  command  of  the  South 
Carolina  volunteers  devolved  first,  on  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Dickinson,  who  being  severely  wounded  (as  before  in 
the  seige  of  Vera  Cruz,)  the  regiment  ultimately  fell 
under  the  orders  of  Major  Gladden. 


THE    WAR. 


Pursuit  of  the  enemy. 


Lieutenants  David  Adams  and  W.  R.  Williams,  of 
the  same  corps ;  Captain  Augustus  Quarles  and  Lieu 
tenant  J.  B.  Goodman,  of  the  15th,  and  Lieutenant  E. 
Chandler,  New  York  volunteers — all  gallant  officers, 
nobly  fell  in  the  same  action. 

Shields  took  three  hundred  and  eighty  prisoners,  in 
cluding  officers,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  rage 
of  the  conflict  between  him  and  the  enemy,  just  in  the 
rear  of  the  fete  de  pont  and  the  convent,  had  some  in 
fluence  on  the  surrender  of  those  formidable  defenses. 

As  soon  as  the  tete  de  pont  was  carried,  the  greater 
part  of  Worth's  and  Pillow's  forces  passed  that  brigade 
in  rapid  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy.  These  distin 
guished  generals,  coming  up  with  Brigadier- General 
Shields,  now  also  victorious,  the  three  continued  to 
press  upon  the  fugitives  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of 
the  capital.  Here  Colonel  Harney,  with  a  small  part 
of  his  brigade  of  cavalry,  rapidly  passed  to  the  front  and 
charged  the  enemy  up  to  the  nearest  gate. 

The  cavalry  charge  was  headed  by  Captain  Kearney, 
of  the  first  dragoons,  having  in  squadron  with  his  own 
troop,  that  of  Captain  McReynolds,  of  the  3d — making 
the  usual  escort  to  general  head-quarters;  but  being 
early  in  the  day,  detached  for  general  service,  was  now 
under  Colonel  Harney's  orders.  The  gallant  captain 
not  hearing  the  recall  that  had  been  sounded,  dashed  up 
to  the  San  Antonio  gate,  sabreing,  in  his  way,  all  who 
resisted.  Of  the  seven  officers  of  the  squadron,  Kearney 
lost  his  left  arm ;  McReynolds  and  Lieutenant  Lorimer 
Graham  were  both  severely  wounded,  and  Lieutenant 
R.  S.  Ewell,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
escort,  had  two  horses  killed  under  him.  Major  F.  D. 


THE    AV  AR.  181 

Number  of  prisoners,  killed  and  wounded, 

Mills,  of  the  15th  infantry,  a  volunteer  in  this  charge, 
was  killed  at  the  gate. 

So  terminated  the  series  of  events  which  I  have  but 
feebly  presented.  My  thanks  were  freely  poured  out  on 
the  different  fields — to  the  abilities  and  science  of  gene 
rals  and  other  officers — to  the  gallantry  and  prowess  of 
all — the  rank  and  file  included.  But  a  reward  infinitely 
higher — the  applause  of  a  grateful  country  and  govern 
ment,  will,  I  cannot  doubt,  be  accorded,  in  due  time,  to 
so  much  merit,  of  every  sort,  displayed  by  this  glorious 
army,  which  has  now  overcome  all  difficulties — distance, 
climate,  ground,  fortifications,  numbers. 

It  has  in  a  single  day,  in  many  battles,  as  often  defeated 
thirty-two  thousand  men;  made  about  three  thousand 
prisoners,  including  eight  generals,  (two  of  them  ex-pre 
sidents,)  and  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  other  officers; 
killed  or  wounded  four  thousand  of  all  ranks — besides 
entire  corps  dispersed  and  dissolved ; — captured  thirty- 
seven  pieces  of  ordnance — more  than  trebling  our  siege 
train  and  field  batteries — with  a  large  number  of  small 
arms,  a  full  supply  of  ammunition  of  every  kind,  &c.,  &c. 

These  great  results  have  overwhelmed  the  enemy. 

Our  loss  amounts  to  one  thousand  and  fifty-three ; — 
killed,  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  including  sixteen 
officers;  wounded,  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six,  with 
sixty  officers. 

After  so  many  victories,  we  might,  with  but  little 
additional  loss,  have  occupied  the  capital  the  same 
evening.  But  Mr.  Trist,  commissioner,  &c.,  as  well  as 
myself,  had  been  admonished  by  the  best  friends  of 
peace — intelligent  neutrals  and  some  American  resi 
dents — against  precipitation-  lest,  by  wantonly  driving 


182  THE    WAR. 

Armistice. 

away  the  government  and  others — dishonoured — we 
might  scatter  the  elements  of  peace,  excite  a  spirit  of 
national  desperation,  and  thus  indefinitely  postpone  the 
hope  of  accommodation.  Deeply  impressed  with  this 
danger,  and  remembering  our  mission — to  conquer  a 
peace — the  army  very  cheerfully  sacrificed  to  patriotism 
— to  the  great  wish  and  want  of  our  country — the  eclat 
that  would  have  followed  an  entrance — sword  in  hand — 
into  a  great  capital.  Willing  to  leave  something  to  this 
republic — of  no  immediate  value  to  us — on  which  to 
rest  her  pride,  and  to  recover  temper — I  halted  our 
victorious  corps  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  (at  least  for  a 
time,)  and  have  them  now  cantoned  in  the  neighbour 
ing  villages,  where  they  are  well  sheltered  and  supplied 
with  all  necessaries. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  being  about  to  take  up 
battering  or  assaulting  positions,  to  authorize  me  to 
summon  the  city  to  surrender,  or  to  sign  an  armistice 
with  a  pledge  to  enter  at  once  into  negotiations  for  a 
peace — a  mission  came  out  to  propose  a  truce.  Reject 
ing  its  forms,  I  despatched  my  contemplated  note  to 
President  Santa  Anna — omitting  the  summons.  The 
22d,  commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  commanders 
of  the  two  armies  ;  the  armistice  was  signed  the  23d, 
and  ratifications  exchanged  the  24th. 

Negotiations  were  actively  continued  with,  as  was 
understood,  some  prospect  of  a  successful  result  up  to 
the  2d  inst.,  when  our  commissioner  handed  in  his  ulti 
matum,  (on  boundaries,)  and  the  negotiators  adjourned  to 
meet  on  the  6th. 

Some  infractions  of  the  truce,  in  respect  to  our  sup 
plies  from  the  city,  were  earlier  committed,  followed  by 


THE     WAR.  185 

Violation  of  the  armistice  by  Santa  Anna. 

apologies  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Those  vexations  I 
was  willing  to  put  down  to  the  imbecility  of  the  govern 
ment,  and  waived  pointed  demands  of  reparation  while 
any  hope  remained  of  a  satisfactory  termination  of  the 
war.  But  on  the  5th,  and  more  fully  on  the  6th,  I 
learned  that  as  soon  as  the  ultimatum  had  been  con 
sidered  in  a  grand  council  of  ministers  and  others, 
President  Santa  Anna,  on  the  4th  or  5th,  without  giving 
me  the  slightest  notice,  actively  recommenced  strength 
ening  the  military  defenses  of  the  city,  in  gross  violation 
of  the  third  article  of  the  armistice. 

On  that  information  which  has  since  received  the 
fullest  verification,  I  addressed  to  him  a  note  on  the  6th. 
His  reply  dated  the  same  day,  received  the  next  morn 
ing,  was  absolutely  and  notoriously  false,  both  in  recrimi 
nation  and  explanation. 

Being  delayed  by  the  terms  of  the  armistice  more 
than  two  weeks,  we  had  now,  late  on  the  7th,  to  begin 
to  reconnoiter  the  different  approaches  to  the  city, 
within  our  reach,  before  I  could  lay  down  any  definitive 
plan  of  attack. 

The  same  afternoon  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was 
discovered  hovering  about  the  Molinos  del  Rey  within  a 
mile  and  a  third  of  this  village,  where  I  am  quartered 
with  the  general  staff  and  Worth's  division. 

It  might  have  been  supposed  that  an  attack  upon  us 
was  intended ;  but  knowing  the  great  value  to  the 
enemy  of  those  mills  (Molinos  del  Rey)  containing  a 
cannon  foundry,  with  a  large  deposit  of  powder  in  Casa 
Mata  near  them  ;  and  having  heard,  two  days  before, 
that  many  church  bells  had  been  sent  out  to  be  cast  into 
guns — the  enemy's  movemen*  was  easily  understood, 


186  THE   WAR. 

Chapul  tepee. 

and  I  resolved,  at  once,  to  drive  him  early  the  next 
morning ;  to  seize  the  powder  and  to  destroy  the 
foundry. 

£  nother  motive  for  this  decision — leaving  the  general 
plan  of  attack  upon  the  city  for  full  reconnoissance — was, 
that  we  knew  our  recent  captures  had  left  the  enemy 
not  a  fourth  of  the  guns  necessary  to  arm,  all  at  the 
same  time,  the  strong  works  at  each  of  the  eight  city 
gates,  and  we  could  not  cut  the  communication  between 
the  foundry  and  the  capital  without  first  taking  the  for 
midable  castle  on  the  heights  of  Chapultepec  which 
overlooked  both  and  stood  between.  For  this  difficult 
operation  we  were  not  entirely  ready,  and  moreover  we 
might  altogether  neglect  the  castle,  if,  as  we  then  hoped, 
our  reconnoissances  should  prove  that  the  distant  southern 
approaches  to  the  city  were  more  eligible  than  this 
south-western  approach. 

Hence  the  decision  promptly  taken,  the  execution  of 
which  was  assigned  to  Brevet  Major-General  Worth, 
whose  division  was  reinforced  with  Cadwalader's  bri 
gade,  of  Pillow's  division,  three  squadrons  of  dragoons, 
under  Major  Sumner,  and  some  heavy  guns  of  the  siege 
train  under  Captain  Huger,  of  the  ordnance,  and  Captain 
Drum  of  the  4th  artillery — two  officers  of  the  highest 
merit." 

For  the  particulars  of  this  decisive  and  brilliant  re 
sult,  General  Scott  refers  to  General  Worth's  despatch, 
and  the  reader  will  find  them  in  the  life  of  that  officer, 
in  a  subsequent  part  of  this  book. 

The  enemy  having  several  times  reinforced  his  line, 
the  action  soon  becoming  much  more  general  than 
I  had  expected,  I  called  up  from  the  distance  of  three 


THE     WAR.  187 

Molinos  del  Bey. 


miles  ;  first,  Major-General  Pillow,  with  his  remaining 
brigade,  (Pierce's,)  and  next  Riley's  brigade  of  Twiggs's 
division — leaving  his  other  brigade  (Smith's)  in  obser 
vation  at  San  Angel.  Those  corps  approached  with 
zeal  and  rapidity ;  but  the  battle  was  won  just  as  Briga 
dier-General  Pierce  reached  the  ground  and  had  inter 
posed  his  corps  between  Garland's  brigade  (Worth's 
division)  and  the  retreating  enemy. 

General  Worth's  report  mentions,  with  just  commen 
dation,  two  of  my  volunteer  aids — Major  Kirby,  pay 
master,  and  Major  Gaines  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers. 
I  also  had  the  valuable  services,  on  the  same  field,  of 
several  other  officers  of  my  staff,  general  and  personal : — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock,  acting  inspector-general ; 
Captain  R.  E.  Lee,  engineer ;  Captain  Irwin,  chief 
quartermaster;  Captain  Grayson,  chief  commissary; 
Captain  H.  L.  Scott,  acting  assistant  adjutant-general ; 
Lieutenant  Williams,  aid-de-camp,  and  Lieutenant  Lay, 
military  secretary." 

"  At  the  end  of  another  series  of  arduous  and  brilliant 
operations,  of  more  than  forty-eight  hours  continuance, 
this  glorious  army  hoisted,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th 
of  September,  the  colours  of  the  United  States  on  the 
walls  of  the  national  palace  of  Mexico. 

The  victory  of  the  8th,  at  the  Molinos  del  Rey,  was 
followed  by  daring  reconnoissances  on  the  part  of  our 
distinguished  engineers,  Captain  Lee,  Lieutenants  Beau- 
regard,  Stevens,  and  Tower — Major  Smith,  senior,  being 
sick,  and  Captain  Mason,  third  in  rank,  wounded.  Their 
operations  were  directed  principally  to  the  south — 
toward  the  gates  of  the  Piedad,  San  Angel,  (Nino  Per- 
dido.)  San  Antonio,  and  the  Passeo  de  la  Viga. 


188  THE    WAR. 

Survey  of  the  southern  gates. 

This  city  stands  on  a  slight  swell  of  ground,  near  the 
centre  of  an  irregular  basin,  and  is  girdled  with  a  ditch 
in  its  greater  extent — a  navigable  canal  of  great  breadth 
and  depth — very  difficult  to  bridge,  in  the  presence  of 
an  enemy,  and  serving  at  once  for  drainage,  custom 
house  purposes,  and  military  defense — leaving  eight 
intrenches  or  gates,  over  arches — each  of  which  we 
found  defended  by  a  system  of  strong  works  that  seemed 
to  require  nothing  but  some  men  and  guns  to  be  im 
pregnable. 

Outside  and  within  the  cross  fires  of  those  gates,  we 
found  to  the  south  other  obstacles  but  little  less  formid 
able.  All  the  approaches  near  the  city  are  over  ele 
vated  causeways,  cut  in  many  places  (to  oppose  us)  and 
flanked,  on  both  sides,  by  ditches  also  of  unusual  di 
mensions. — The  numerous  cross  roads  are  flanked  in 
like  manner,  having  bridges  at  the  intersections,  recently 
broken.  The  meadows  thus  checked,  are,  moreover,  in 
many  spots,  under  water  or  marshy ;  for,  it  will  be  re 
membered,  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the  wet  season, 
though  with  less  rain  than  usual,  and  we  could  not  wait 
for  the  fall  of  the  neighbouring  lakes  and  the  consequent 
drainage  of  the  wet  grounds  at  the  edge  of  the  city — 
the  lowest  in  the  whole  basin. 

After  a  close  personal  survey  of  the  southern  gates, 
covered  by  Pillow's  division  and  Riley's  brigade  of 
Twiggs's — with  four  times  our  numbers,  concentrated  in 
our  immediate  front — I  determined,  on  the  llth,  to 
avoid  the  net  work  of  obstacles,  and  to  seek,  by  a  sud 
den  inversion,  to  the  south-west  and  west,  less  unfavour 
able  approaches. 

To  economize  the  1'ves  of  our  gallant  officers  and 


THE   WAR.  189 

Scott's  stratagem. 


men,  as  well  as  to  insure  success,  it  became  indispen 
sable  that  this  resolution  should  be  long  masked  from  the 
enemy,  and  again  that  the  new  movement,  when  disco 
vered,  should  be  mistaken  for  a  feint,  and  the  old  as 
indicating  our  true  and  ultimate  point  of  attack. 

Accordingly,  on  the  spot,  the  llth,  I  ordered  Quit- 
man's  division  from  Coyoacan,  to  join  Pillow  by  day 
light,  before  the  southern  gates,  and  then  that  the  two 
major-generals,  with  their  divisions,  should,  by  night, 
proceed  (two  miles)  to  join  me,  at  Tacubaya,  where  I 
was  quartered  with  Worth's  division.  Twiggs,  with 
Riley's  brigade  and  Captains  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's 
field  batteries — the  latter  twelve-pounders — was  left  in 
front  of  those  gates — to  maneuver,  to  threaten,  or  to 
make  false  attacks,  in  order  to  occupy  and  deceive  the 
enemy.  Twiggs's  other  brigade  (Smith's,)  was  left  at 
supporting  distance,  in  the  rear,  at  San  Angel,  till  the 
morning  of  the  13th,  and  also  to  support  our  general 
depot  at  Miscoaque.  The  stratagem  against  the  south 
was  admirably  executed  throughout  the  12th  and  down 
to  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  when  it  was  too  late  for 
the  enemy  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  his  delusion. 

The  first  step  in  the  new  movement  was  to  carry  Cha- 
pultepec,  a  natural  and  isolated  mound,  of  great  eleva 
tion,  strongly  fortified  at  its  base,  on  its  acclivities  and 
heights.  Besides  a  numerous  garrison,  here  was  the 
military  college  of  the  republic,  with  a  large  number  of 
sub-lieutenants  and  other  students.  Those  works  were 
within  direct  gun-shot  of  the  village  of  Tacubaya,  and 
until  carried,  we  could  not  approach  th$  city  on  the  west 
without  making  a  circuit  too  \\ide  and  too  hazardous. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  night,  (that  of  the  llth,) 


190  THE   WAR. 

Battle  of  Chapultepoc. 


heavy  batteries,  within  easy  ranges,  were  established. 
No.  1,  on  our  right,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Drum,  4th  artillery,  (relieved  late  next,  day,  for  some 
hours,  by  Lieutenant  Andrews,  of  the  3d,)  and  No.  2, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Hagner,  ordnance — both  sup 
ported  by  Quitman's  division.  Nos.  3  and  4,  on  the 
opposite  side,  supported  by  Pillow's  division,  were  com 
manded,  the  former  by  Captain  Brooks  and  Lieutenant 
S.  S.  Anderson,  2d  artillery,  alternately,  and  the  latter 
by  Lieutenant  Stone,  ordnance.  The  batteries  were 
traced  by  Captain  Huger  and  Captain  Lee,  engineer, 
and  constructed  by  them,  with  the  able  assistance  of  the 
young  officer.',  of  those  corps  and  the  artillery. 

To  prepare  for  an  assault  it  was  foreseen  that  the  play 
of  the  batteries  might  run  into  the  second  day ;  but  re 
cent  captures  had  not  only  trebled  our  siege  pieces,  but 
also  our  ammunition,  and  we  knew  that  we  should 
greatly  augment  both  by  carrying  the  place.  I  was, 
therefore,  in  no  haste  in  ordering  an  assault  before  the 
works  were  well  crippled  by  our  missiles. 

The  bombardment  and  cannonade,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Captain  Huger,  were  commenced  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  12th.  Before  nightfall,  which  necessa 
rily  stopped  our  batteries,  we  had  perceived  that  a  good 
impression  had  been  made  on  the  castle  and  its  out 
works,  and  that  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  had  remained 
outside  towards  the  city,  from  an  early  hour,  to  avoid 
our  fire,  and  to  be  at  hand,  on  its  cessation,  in  order  to 
reinforce  the  garrison  against  an  assault.  The  same  out 
side  force  was  discovered  the  next  morning  after  our  bat 
teries  had  reopened  upon  the  castle,  by  which  we  again 
reduced  its  garrison  to  the  minimum  needed  for  the  guns. 


THE    WAR.  193 

Battle  of  Chapultepec. 

Pillow  and  Quitman  had  been  in  position  since  early 
in  the  night  of  the  llth.  Major-General  Worth  was 
now  ordered  to  hold  his  division  in  reserve,  near  the 
foundry,  to  support  Pillow ;  and  Brigadier- General  Smith, 
of  Twiggs's  division,  had  just  arrived  with  his  brigade, 
from  Piedad,  (two  miles,)  to  support  Quitman.  Twiggs's 
guns,  before  the  southern  gates,  again  reminded  us,  as 
the  day  before,  that  he,  with  Riley's  brigade,  and  Tay 
lor's  and  Steptoe's  batteries,  was  in  activity,  threaten 
ing  the  southern  gates,  and  there  holding  a  great  part 
of  the  Mexican  army  on  the  defensive. 

Worth's  division  furnished  Pillow's  attack  with  an 
assaulting  party  of  some  two  hundred  volunteer  officers 
and  men,  under  Captain  McKenzie,  of  the  2d  artillery, 
and  Twiggs's  division  supplied  a  similar  one,  commanded 
by  Captain  Casey,  2d  infantry  to  Quitman.  Each  of 
these  little  columns  was  furnished  with  scaling  ladders. 

The  signal  I  had  appointed  for  the  attack,  was  the 
momentary  cessation  of  the  fire  on  the  part  of  our  heavy 
batteries.  About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
13th,  judging  that  the  time  had  arrived,  by  the  effect 
of  the  missiles  we  had  thrown,  I  sent  an  aid-de-camp  to 
Pillow,  and  another  to  Quitman,  with  notice  that  the 
concerted  signal  was  about  to  be  given.  Both  columns 
now  advanced  with  an  alacrity  that  gave  assurance  of 
prompt  success.  The  batteries,  siezing  opportunities, 
threw  shots  and  shells  upon  the  enemy,  over  the  heads  of 
our  men,  with  good  effect,  particularly  at  every  attempt 
to  reinforce  the  works  from  without,  to  meet  our  assault. 

Major-General  Pillow's  approach,  on  the  west  side,  lay 
through  an  open  grove,  filled  with  sharp-shooters,  who 
were  speedily  dislodged ;  when,  being  up  with  the  front 

9 


194  THE     WAR. 

Battle  of  Chapultepec. 


of  the  attack,  and  emerging  into  the  open  space,  at  the 
foot  of  a  rocky  acclivity,  that  gallant  leader  was  struck 
down  by  an  agonizing  wound.  The  immediate  command 
devolved  on  Brigadier- General  Cadwalader,  in  the 
absence  of  the  senior  brigadier  (Pierce)  of  the  same 
division — an  invalid  since  the  events  of  August  19.  On 
a  previous  call  of  Pillow,  Worth  had  just  sent  him  a 
reinforcement — Colonel  Clark's  brigade. 

The  broken  acclivity  was  still  to  be  ascended,  and  a 
strong  redoubt,  midway,  to  be  carried,  before  reaching 
the  castle  on  the  heights.  The  advance  of  our  brave 
men,  led  by  brave  officers,  though  necessarily  slow,  was 
unwavering,  over  rocks,  chasms,  and  mines,  and  under 
the  hottest  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The  redoubt 
now  yielded  to  resistless  valour,  and  the  shouts  that  fol 
lowed  announced  to  the  castle  the  fate  that  impended. 
The  enemy  were  steadily  driven  from  shelter  to  shelter. 
The  retreat  allowed  not  time  to  fire  a  single  mine,  with 
out  the  certainty  of  blowing  up  friend  and  foe.  Those 
who  at  a  distance  attempted  to  apply  the  matches  to  the 
long  trains,  were  shot  down  by  our  men.  There  was 
death  below  as  well  as  above  ground.  At  length  the 
ditch  and  wall  of  the  main  work  were  reached  ;  the 
scaling-ladders  were  brought  up  and  planted  by  the 
storming  parties ;  some  of  the  daring  spirits  first  in  the 
assault  were  cast  down — killed  or  wounded ;  but  a 
lodgment  was  soon  made  ;  streams  of  heroes  followed  ; 
all  opposition  was  overcome,  and  several  of  our  regi 
mental  colours  flung  out  from  the  upper  walls,  amidst 
long  continued  shouts  and  cheers,  which  sent  dismay 
into  the  capital.  No  scene  could  have  been  more  ani 
mating  or  glorious. 


THE    WAR.  195 

Battle  of  Chapuitepec. 


Major-General  Quitman,  nobly  supported  by  Brigadier 
Generals  Shields  and  Smith,  (P.  F.,)  his  other  officers 
and  men,  was  up  with  the  part  assigned  him.  Simulta 
neously  with  the  movement  on  the  west,  he  had  gallantly 
approached  the  south-east  of  the  same  works  over  a 
causeway  with  cuts  and  batteries,  and  defended  by  an 
army  strongly  posted  outside,  to  the  east  of  the  works. 
Those  formidable  obstacles  Quitman  had  to  face,  with 
but  little  shelter  for  his  troops  or  space  for  maneuvering. 
Deep  ditches,  flanking  the  causeway,  made  it  difficult 
to  cross  on  either  side  into  the  adjoining  meadows,  and 
these  again  were  intersected  by  other  ditches.  Smith 
and  his  brigade  had  been  early  thrown  out  to  make  a 
f^reep  to  the  right,  in  order  to  present  a  front  against 
the  enemy's  line,  (outside,)  and  to  turn  two  intervening 
batteries  near  the  foot  of  Chapultepec.  This  movement 
was  also  intended  to  support  Quitman's  storming  parties, 
both  on  the  causeway.  The  first  of  these  furnished  by 
Twiggs's  division,  was  commanded  in  succession  by 
Captain  Casey,  2d  infantry,  and  Captain  Paul,  7th  in 
fantry,  after  Casey  had  been  severely  wounded  ;  and 
the  second,  originally  under  the  gallant  Major  Twiggs, 
marine  corps,  killed,  and  then  Captain  Miller,  2d  Penn 
sylvania  volunteers.  The  storming  party,  now  com 
manded  by  Captain  Paul,  seconded  by  Captain  Roberts 
of  the  rifles,  Lieutenant  Stewart,  and  others  of  the  same 
regiment,  Smith's  brigade,  carried  the  two  batteries  in 
the  road,  took  some  guns,  with  many  prisoners,  and 
drove  the  enemy  posted  behind  in  support.  The  New 
York  and  South  Carolina  volunteers,  (Shields's  brigade,) 
and  the  2d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  all  on  the  left  of 
Quitman's  line,  together  with  portions  of  his  storming 


196  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Chapultepec. 


parties,  crossed  the  meadows  in  front,  under  a  heavy 
fire  and  entered  the  outer  inclosures  of  Chapultepec 
just  in  time  to  join  in  the  final  assault  from  the  west. 

Those  operations  all  occurred  on  the  west,  south-east, 
and  heights  of  Chapultepec.  To  the  north,  and  at  the 
base  of  the  mound,  inaccessible  on  that  side,  the  llth 
infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Herbert,  the  14th, 
under  Colonel  Trousdale,  and  Captain  Magruder's  field 
battery,  1st  artillery — one  section  advanced  under  Lieu 
tenant  Jackson — all  of  Pillow's  division — had,  at  the 
same  time,  some  spirited  affairs  against  superior  num 
bers,  driving  the  enemy  from  a  battery  in  the  road,  and 
capturing  a  gun.  In  these,  the  officers  and  corps  named 
gained  merited  praise.  Colonel  Trousdale,  the  com 
mander,  though  twice  wounded,  continued  on  duty  until 
the  heights  were  carried. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth,  I  repeated  the 
orders  of  the  night  before  to  Major-General  Worth,  to 
be,  with  his  division  at  hand,  to  support  the  movement 
of  Major-General  Pillow  from  our  left.  The  latter  seems 
soon  to  have  called  for  that  entire  division,  standing, 
momentarily  in  reserve,  and  Worth  sent  him  Colonel 
Clarke's  brigade.  The  call,  if  not  unnecessary,  was  at 
least,  from  the  circumstances,  unknown  to  me  at  the 
time ;  for  soon  observing  that  the  very  large  body  of 
the  enemy,  in  the  road  in  front  of  Major-General  Quit- 
man's  right,  was  receiving  reinforcements  from  the  city 
— less  than  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  east — I  sent  instruc 
tions  to  Worth,  on  our  opposite  flank,  to  turn  Chapul 
tepec  with  his  division,  and  to  proceed,  cautiously  by 
the  road  at  its  northern  base,  in  order,  if  not  met  by 
very  superior  numbers,  to  threaten  or  to  attack,  in  rear, 


THE   WAB.  197 

Capture  of  Chapultepeo. 

that  body  of  the  enemy.  The  movement,  it  was  also 
believed,  could  not  fail  to  distract  and  to  intimidate  the 
enemy  generally. 

Worth  promptly  advanced  with  his  remaining  brigade 
—Colonel  Garland's — Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith's 
light  battalion,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan's  field  battery 
— all  of  his  division — and  three  squadrons  of  dragoons, 
under  Major  Sumner,  which  I  had  just  ordered  up  to 
join  in  the  movement. 

Having  turned  the  forest  on  the  west,  and  arriving 
opposite  to  the  north  centre  of  Chapultepec,  Worth  came 
up  with  the  troops  in  the  road  under  Colonel  Trousdale, 
and  aided  by  a  flank  movement  of  a  part  of  Garland's 
brigade  in  taking  the  one  gun  breastwork,  then  under 
the  fire  of  Lieutenant  Jackson's  section  of  Captain 
Magruder's  field  battery.  Continuing  to  advance,  this 
division  passed  Chapultepec,  attacking  the  right  of  the 
enemy's  line,  resting  on  that  road,  about  the  moment 
of  the  general  retreat  consequent  upon  the  capture  of  the 
formidable  castle  and  its  outposts. 

Arriving  some  minutes  later,  and  mounting  to  the  top 
of  the  castle,  the  whole  field  to  the  east  lay  plainly 
under  my  view. 

There  are  two  routes  from  Chapultepec  to  the  capital 
— the  one  on  the  right  entering  the  same  gate,  Belen, 
with  the  road  from  the  south  via  Pied  ad ;  and  the  other 
obliquing  to  the  left,  to  intersect  the  Great  Western,  or 
San  Cosme  road,  in  a  suburb  outside  of  the  gate  of  San 
Cosme. 

Each  of  these  routes  (an  elevated  causeway)  presents 
a  double  roadway  on  the  sides  of  an  aqueduct  of  strong 
masonry,  and  great  height,  resting  on  open  arches  and 


198  THE    WAR. 

Flight  of  the  Mexicans. 

massive  pillars,  which,  together,  afford  fine  points  both 
for  attack  and  defense.  The  sideways  of  both  aqueducts 
are,  moreover,  defended  by  many  strong  breastworks  at 
the  gates,  and  before  reaching  them.  As  we  had  ex 
pected,  we  found  the  four  tracts  unusually  dry  and  solid 
for  the  season. 

Worth  and  Quitman  were  prompt  in  pursuing  the 
retreating  enemy — the  former  by  the  San  Cosme  aque 
duct,  and  the  latter  along  that  of  Belen.  Each  had  now 
advanced  some  hundred  yards. 

Deeming  it  all-important  to  profit  by  our  successes, 
and  the  consequent  dismay  of  the  enemy,  which  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  general,  I  hastened  to  despatch 
from  Chapultepec — first  Clarke's  brigade,  and  then  Cad- 
walader's,  to  the  support  of  Worth,  and  gave  orders 
that  the  necessary  heavy  guns  should  follow.  Pierce's 
brigade  was,  at  the  same  time,  sent  to  Quitman,  and,  in 
the  course  of  the  afternoon,  I  caused  some  additional 
siege  pieces  to  be  added  to  his  train.  Then,  after 
designating  the  15th  infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Howard — Morgan,  the  colonel,  had  been  disabled  by  a 
wound  at  Churubusco — as  the  garrison  of  Chapultepec, 
and  giving  directions  for  the  care  of  the  prisoners  of 
war,  the  captured  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores,  I  pro 
ceeded  to  join  the  advance  of  Worth,  within  the  suburb, 
and  beyond  the  turn  at  the  junction  of  the  aqueduct 
with  the  great  highway  from  the  west  to  the  gate  of  San 
Cosme. 

At  this  junction  of  roads,  we  first  passed  one  of  those 
formidable  systems  of  city  defenses,  spoken  of  above, 
and  it  had  not  a  gun! — a  strong  proof — 1,  That  the 
enemj-  had  expected  us  to  fail  in  the  attack  upon 


THE    WAR. 


Street  fight  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 


Chapultepec,  even  if  we  meant  any  thing  more  than  a 
feint  ;  2,  That,  in  either  case,  we  designed,  in  his  belief, 
to  return  and  double  our  forces  against  the  southern 
gates  —  a  delusion  kept  up  by  the  active  demonstrations 
of  Twiggs  and  the  forces  posted  on  that  side  ;  and  3, 
That  advancing  rapidly  from  the  reduction  of  Chapul 
tepec,  the  enemy  had  not  time  to  shift  guns  —  our  pre 
vious  captures  had  left  him,  comparatively,  but  few  — 
from  the  southern  gates. 

Within  those  disgarnished  works,  I  found  our  troops 
engaged  in  a  street  fight  against  the  enemy  posted  in 
gardens,  at  windows,  and  on  house-tops  —  all  flat,  with 
parapets.  Worth  ordered  forward  the  mountain  how 
itzers  of  Cadwalader's  brigade,  preceded  by  skirmishers 
and  pioneers,  with  pick-axes  and  crow-bars,  to  force 
windows  and  doors,  or  to  burrow  through  walls.  The 
assailants  were  soon  in  an  equality  of  position  fatal  to 
the  enemy.  By  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Worth  had 
carried  two  batteries  in  this  suburb.  According  to  my 
instructions,  he  here  posted  guards  and  sentinels,  and 
placed  his  troops  under  shelter  for  the  nig1  it.  There  was 
but  one  more  obstacle  —  the  San  Cosme  gate  (custom 
house)  between  him  and  the  great  square  in  front  of  the 
cathedral  and  palace  —  the  heart  of  the  city;  and  the 
barrier,  it  was  known,  could  not  by  daylight,  resist  our 
siege  guns  thirty  minutes. 

I  had  gone  back  to  the  foot  of  Chapultepec,  the  point 
from  which  the  two  aqueducts  begin  to  diverge,  some 
hours  earlier,  in  order  to  be  near  that  new  depot,  and  in 
easy  communication  with  Quitman  and  Twiggs  as  well 
as  with  Worth. 

From  this  point  I  ordered  all  detachments  and  strag- 


200  THE    WAB. 

Quitman  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 

glers  to  their  respective  corps  then  in  advance  ;  sent  to 
Quitman  additional  siege  guns,  ammunition,  intrench 
ing  tools ;  directed  Twiggs's  remaining  brigade  (Riley's) 
from  Piedad  to  support  Worth,  and  Captain  Steptoe's 
field  battery,  also  at  Piedad,  to  rejoin  Quitman's  division. 

I  had  been,  from  the  first,  well  aware  that  the  western, 
or  San  Cosme,  was  the  less  difficult  route  to  the  centre 
and  conquest  of  the  capital;  and,  therefore,  intended 
that  Quitman  should  only  manocuver  and  threaten  the 
Belen  or  south-western  gate,  in  order  to  favour  the  main 
attack  by  Worth — knowing  that  the  strong  defenses  at 
the  Belen  were  directly  under  the  guns  of  the  much 
stronger  fortress,  called  the  citadel,  just  within.  Both 
of  these  defenses  of  the  enemy  were  also  within  easy 
supporting  distance  from  the  San  Angel  (or  JVtno  Per- 
dido]  arid  San  Antonio  gates.  Hence  the  greatest  sup 
port,  in  numbers,  given  to  Worth's  movement  as  the 
main  attack. 

Those  views  1  repeatedly,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
communicated  to  Major-General  Quitman;  but,  being 
in  hot  pursuit — ga  lant  himself,  and  supported  by  Briga 
dier-Generals  Shields  and  Smith — Shields  badly  wounded 
before  Chapultepec,  and  refusing  to  retire — as  well  as  by 
all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  column — Quitman  con 
tinued  to  press  forward,  under  flank  and  direct  fires — 
carried  an  intermediate  battery  of  two  guns,  and  then 
the  gate,  before  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  but  not 
without  proportionate  loss,  increased  by  his  steady  main 
tenance  of  that  position. 

Quitman,  within  the  city — adding  several  new  de 
fenses  to  the  position  he  had  won,  and  sheltering  his 
corps  as  well  as  practicable — now  awaited  the  return  of 


THE   WAR.  201 

Deputation  to  General  Scott. 

daylight  under  the  guns  of  the  formidable  citadel,  yet  to 
be  subdued. 

At  about  four  o'clock  next  morning,  (September  14,) 
a  deputation  of  the  aywntamiento  (city  council)  waited 
upon  me  to  report  that  the  federal  government  and  the 
army  of  Mexico  had  fled  from  the  capital  some  three 
hours  before,  and  to  demand  terms  of  capitulation  in 
favour  of  the  church,  the  citizens,  and  the  municipal 
authorities.  I  promptly  replied,  that  I  would  sign  no 
capitulation;  that  the  city  had  been  virtually  in  our 
possession  from  the  time  of  the  lodgments  effected  by 
Worth  and  Quitman  the  day  before ;  that  I  regretted  the 
silent  escape  of  the  Mexican  army ;  that  I  should  levy 
upon  the  city  a  moderate  contribution,  for  special  pur 
poses  ;  and  that  the  American  army  should  come  under 
no  terms,  not  self-imposed — such  only  as  its  own  honour, 
the  dignity  of  the  United  States,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
age,  should,  in  my  opinion,  imperiously  demand  and 
impose. 

At  the  termination  of  the  interview  with  the  city  depu 
tation,  I  communicated,  about  daylight,  orders  to  Worth 
and  Quitman  to  advance  slowly  and  cautiously,  (to 
guard  against  treachery,)  towards  the  heart  of  the  city, 
and  to  occupy  its  stronger  and  more  commanding  points. 
Quitman  proceeded  to  the  great  plaza  or  square,  planted 
guards,  and  hoisted  the  colours  of  the  United  States  on 
the  national  palace — containing  the  halls  of  Congress 
and  executive  departments  of  federal  Mexico.  In  this 
grateful  service,  Quitman  might  have  been  anticipated 
by  Worth,  but  for  my  express  orders,  halting  the  latter 
at  the  head  of  the  Alameda,  (a  green  park,)  within  three 
squares  of  that  goal  of  general  ambition.  The  capital 


202  THE    WAR. 

Firing  from  the  houses. 

however,  was  not  taken  by  any  one  or  two  corps,  but 
by  the  talent,  the  science,  the  gallantry,  the  prowess  of 
this  entire  army.  In  the  glorious  conquest,  all  had  con 
tributed — early  and  powerfully — the  killed,  the  wound 
ed,  and  the  fit  for  duty — at  Vera  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo, 
Contreras,  San  Augustin,  Churubusco,  (three  battles,) 
the  Molinos  del  Rey,  and  Chapultepec — as  much  as 
those  who  fought  at  the  gates  of  Belen  and  San  Cosme. 

Soon  after  we  had  entered,  and  were  in  the  act  of 
occupying  the  city,  a  fire  was  opened  upon  us  from  the 
flat  roofs  of  the  houses,  from  windows  and  corners  of 
streets,  by  some  two  thousand  convicts  liberated  the 
night  before  by  the  flying  government — joined  by,  per 
haps,  as  many  Mexican  soldiers,  who  had  disbanded 
themselves  and  thrown  off  their  uniforms.  This  unlawful 
war  lasted  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  in  spite  of  the 
exertions  of  the  municipal  authorities,  and  was  not  put 
down  till  we  had  lost  many  men,  including  several  officers 
killed  or  wounded,  and  had  punished  the  miscreants 
Their  objects  were  to  gratify  national  hatred  ;  and  in 
the  general  alarm  and  confusion,  to  plunder  the  wealthy 
inhabitants — particularly  the  deserted  houses.  But  fa 
milies  are  now  generally  returning ;  business  of  every 
kind  has  been  resumed,  and  the  city  is  already  tranquil 
and  cheerful,  under  the  admirable  conduct  (with  excep 
tions  very  few  and  trifling)  of  our  gallant  troops. 

I  recapitulate  our  losses  since  we  arrived  in  the  basin 
of  Mexico. 

August  19,  20. — Killed,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven,  including  fourteen  officers.  Wounded,  eight 
hundred  aid  seventy-seven,  including  sixty-two  officers. 


THE  WAR.  203 

Trophies. 

Missing,  (probably  killed,)  thirty-eight  rank  and  file. 
Total,  one  thousand  and  fifty-two. 

September  8. — Killed,  one  hundred  and  sixteen,  in 
cluding  nine  officers.  Wounded,  six  hundred  and  fifty- 
five,  including  forty-nine  officers.  Missing,  eighteen 
rank  and  file.  Total,  seven  hundred  and  eighty-nine. 

September  12,  13,  14. — Killed,  one  hundred  and 
thirty,  including  ten  officers.  Wounded,  seven  hundred 
and  three,  including  sixty-eight  officers.  Missing,  twenty- 
nine  rank  and  file.  Total,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two. 

Grand  total  of  losses,  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
three,  including  three  hundred  and  eighty-three  officers. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  small  force  has  beaten  on  the 
same  occasions,  in  view  of  their  capital,  the  whole  Mex 
ican  army,  of  (at  the  beginning)  thirty  odd  thousand 
men — posted  always  in  chosen  positions,  behind  in- 
trenchments,  or  more  formidable  defenses  of  nature  and 
art;  killed  or  wounded,  of  that  number,  more  than 
seven  thousand  officers  and  men  ;  taking  three  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  thirty  prisoners  ;  including  thirteen 
generals,  of  whom  three  had  been  presidents  of  this 
republic  ;  captured  more  than  twenty  colours  and  stand 
ards,  seventy-five  pieces  of  ordnance,  besides  fifty-seven 
wall-pieces,  twenty  thousand  small  arms,  an  immense 
quantity  of  shot,  shells,  powder,  &c.,  &c. 

Of  that  enemy  once  so  formidable  in  numbers,  ap 
pointments,  artillery,  &c.,  twenty  odd  thousand  have 
disbanded  themselves  in  despair,  leaving,  as  is  known, 
not  more  than  three  fragments — the  largest  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred — now  wandering  in  different 
directions,  without  magazines,  or  a  military  che*st,  and 
Ining  at  free  quarters  upon  tb«"T  own  people. 


204  THE    WAR. 

Scheme  of  the  priesthood. 

In  the  national  palace  of  Mexico  opposite  the  entrance 
of  the  great  reception  room,  there  hung  a  portrait  of 
the  celebrated  Mexican,  Iturbide.  Rumaging  about  the 
palace,  some  of  the  officers  found,  in  a  neglected  room, 
a  portrait  of  Washington.  Amid  the  greatest  enthusiasm, 
the  frowning  representative  of  Mexican  greatness  gave 
place  to  the  mild  benevolent  countenance  of  the  great 
American  hero ;  the  proper  sequel  to  the  overthrow  of  the 
forces  of  the  Mexican  nation  by  the  army  of  the  North 
American  republic.  From  the  taking  of  the  capital  to  the 
present,  all  has  remained  quiet  and  tranquil.  The  priest 
hood  attempted  to  carry  out  a  plan  for  the  annoyance  of 
the  American  army,  refusing  to  open  the  churches,  and 
in  other  modes  cherishing  the  popular  ill  will.  But  the 
prompt  and  energetic  orders  of  General  Scott  brought  a 
sudden  termination  upon  their  plans.  Signor  Pena  y 
Pena,  who  had  been  called  to  the  administration  of  the 
government  of  Mexico,  issued  an  address  marked  by  the 
moderation  of  its  views,  and  his  secretary  of  state  fol 
lowed  with  one  similar  in  tenor. 

In  October,  Senor  Rosa,  the  secretary  of  state,  in  the 
name  of  the  president  called  a  meeting  of  the  Mexican 
Congress,  to  assemble  at  Queretaro  in  November,  the 
results  of  whose  deliberations  have  as  yet  been  unim 
portant.  During  the  same  month,  the  attention  of  the 
government  was  directed  towards  General  Paredes,  who 
had  effected  an  entrance  into  the  country  in  disguise, 
and  issued  a  very  florid  address  to  his  countrymen.  The 
government  refused  his  proffered  services,  and  directed 
harsh  measures  to  be  taken  against  him. 

Santa  Anna,  though  driven  from  the  capital,  continued 
his  indefatigable  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  ungrateful 


THE    WAR.  205 

Death  of  Walker. 


\ 


country.  With  nearly  eight  thousand  men  he  advanced 
upon  and  took  Puebla,  and  on  the  25th  of  September, 
laid  siege  to  the  American  works  near  that  city,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Childs.  A  siege  of  twenty-eight 
days  failed  to  induce  the  gallant  colonel  and  his  starved 
troops  to  depart  from  their  intention  to  make  a  success 
ful  defense.  A  cannonading  was  briskly  maintained  on 
both  sides  for  three  days.  On  the  1st  of  October,  Santa 
Anna  sallied  out  from  the  city  with  a  large  force,  in  order 
to  attack  General  Lane,  who  was  on  his  way  up  from 
Vera  Cruz  with  a  large  train,  and  a  force  of  about  three 
thousand  men.  On  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  October, 
information  was  received  that  Santa  Anna,  with  four 
thousand  men  and  several  pieces  of  artillery,  was  prepared 
to  dispute  their  passage  at  the  pass  of  Final  Venta  del 
Final.  The  army  prepared  for  a  battle,  when  it  was 
learned  that  Santa  Anna  himself  was  at  the  town  of 
Huamantla,  some  ten  miles  distant,  and  General  Lane 
determined  to  advance  upon  that  town  with  a  portion 
of  his  forces,  Captain  Walker  leading  the  van  with  a 
force  of  two  hundred  cavalry.  Santa  Anna  had  left  that 
morning  for  the  pass  with  four  thousand  men,  leaving 
his  artillery  with  a  detachment  of  five  hundred  to  fol 
low.  Captain  Walker  dashed  into  the  town,  defeated 
this  detachment,  captured  four  guns,  and  supposing  the 
fight  to  be  ended,  suffered  his  men  to  disperse  through 
the  town  in  search  of  guns  and  ammunition.  With 
some  fifty  men  he  remained  in  the  plaza,  where  he  sud 
denly  found  himself  fiercely  attacked  by  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  who  had  seen  his  advance  and  returned  to  save 
their  artillery.  In  the  struggle  which  followed,  the  gal 
lant  captain  was  slain.  The  arrival  of  the  infantry  soon 


206  THE   WAR. 

Santa  Anna  Guperseded. 

put  an  end  to  the  battle ;  the  enemy  withdrawing  from 
the  town.  The  Mexicans  lost  two  of  the  four  cannon, 
and  some  thirty  wagon  loads  of  ammunition.  Santa 
Anna  thus  out-generaled,  abandoned  his  intention  of 
contesting  the  pass  of  Final.  But  for  this  manoeuver  the 
Americans  must  have  suffered  severely  in  this  narrow 
and  difficult  pass. 

After  relieving  the  garrison  at  Puebla,  which  city  was 
evacuated  by  General  Rea,  General  Lane  advanced 
upon  Atlisco,  which  he  captured  after  gaining  a  victory 
over  General  Rea,  who  contested  the  field  with  unusual 
spirit,  having  suffered  a  loss  of  more  than  five  hundred 
killed  and  wounded. 

General  Santa  Anna,  after  these  reverses,  fled  with  a 
small  band  to  Tehuacan,  where  even  these  troops  be 
came  mutinous  for  want  of  pay,  and  soon  deserted  him. 
The  president  then  deposed  him  from  the  head  of  the 
army  and  appointed  General  Rincon  to  succeed  him.  In 
grief  and  indignation  at  this  treatment  from  the  executive 
whom  he  himself  had  just  called  to  power,  Santa  Anna 
issued  an  address  on  the  16th  of  October  to  the  army, 
and  another  on  the  22d  of  October  to  the  people  of 
Mexico,  both  more  remarkable  than  any  of  his  papers 
for  its  lofty  tone,  for  the  appeal  to  his  enemies  to  testify 
concerning  his  conduct,  and  the  assertion  that  his  ene 
mies  are  in  favour  of  peace. 

We  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  operations  of  the 
navy,  which  had  been  engaged  under  Commodores 
Conner  and  Perry  in  the  difficult  service  of  blockading 
the  rocky  coast  of  Mexico.  On  the  8th  of  August,  and 
on  the  15th  of  October,  1846,  two  unsuccessful  attempts 
were  made  by  Commodore  Conner  to  capture  the  town 


THE   WAR.  209 

Loss  of  the  Truxtun- 


of  Alvarado,  the  high  seas  and  strong  currents  rendering 
it  unadvisable  to  land  troops  on  the  rocky  coast,  and  the 
bar  preventing  some  of  the  \essels  from  entering  the 
river.  The  people  made  a  considerable  show  of  dc-v 
fense,  for  which  the  government  rewarded  them  in  a 
peculiarly  Mexican  manner  by  brevetting  their  town  a 
city  I 

During  the  summer,  almost  the  only  events  that  oc 
curred  to  break  the  monotony  of  a  blockade  were  the 
accidents  that  arose  from  the  dangerous  character  of  the 
coast.  On  the  15th  of  August,  1846,  the  brig  Truxtun 
ran  aground  on  the  bar  off  Tuspan,  while  standing  in 
shore  to  cover  her  boats  on  an  expedition  for  fresh  water 
and  provisions.  Every  effort  was  made  to  lighten  her 
without  success.  A  boat  was  sent  off  to  the  squadron 
for  aid,  and  a  Mexican  vessel  was  captured  in  the  hope 
that  the  crew  might  be  taken  off,  but  the  sea  ran  so  high 
as  to  render  this  impossible,  and  the  small  boat's  crew 
and  the  crew  of  the  prize  reached  the  squadron  after 
several  days  of  danger  and  privation.  The  Princeton 
was  sent  to  the  relief  of  the  stranded  brig,  but  the  crew 
had  gone  on  shore  and  surrendered  as  prisoners  before 
her  arrival,  and  they  could  only  burn  and  blow  her  up. 
Every  thing  of  value  was  gone  except  an  iron  cable 
attached  to  an  anchor  overboard.  In  April,  1847,  the 
town  of  Tuspan  was,  by  an  expedition  under  Commodore 
Perry,  so  well  planned  that  failure  was  impossible. 
Three  forts,  the  guns  of  which  raked  the  river  and  de 
fended  the  approach  to  the  town,  were  silenced  in  suc 
cession,  and  each  of  them  was  taken  possession  of  by 
the  seamen  and  marines  under  their  immediate  officers 
who  landed  in  boats  along  the  shores  of  the  river,  and 


210  THE    WAR. 

Expedition  against  Tobasco. 

planted  the  soul-stirring  flag  of  our  Union  upon  the 
battlements.  On  reaching  the  town,  Commodore  Perry 
proceeded  to  the  shore  with  his  staff  and  took  possession 
of  the  city  without  opposition,  Senor  General  Don  Mar 
tin  P.  de  Cos,  commandant  of  the  place,  "having,"  to 
use  the  words  of  a  humorous  letter  writer,  "  struck  out 
for  country  quarters  some  time  before  the  fight  with  the 
forts  was  done.  A  disembarkation  of  the  marines  was 
made,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  saluted  by  a  stalwart 
band  of  sea  soldiers  with  two  brass  field-pieces  in  the 
plaza.  Commodore  Perry  established  his  head-quarters 
in  the  city.  From  the  forts  and  one  of  the  public  stores 
were  taken  guns,  sails,  ragging,  &c.,  that  had  belonged 
to  the  unfortunate  brig  Truxtun,  and  an  expedition  sent 
up  the  river  returned  with  her  boats,  besides  schooners, 
launches,  and  boats  captured  from  the  enemy. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  1846,  Commodore  Perry 
sailed  from  the  squadron  to  attack  the  town  of  Tobasco. 
On  the  24th  the  bar  was  crossed,  and  Frontera,  the  town 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  captured  with  all  the  vessels  in 
port.  The  expedition  then  moved  up  the  river  to 
Tobasco,  which  Commodore  Perry  consented  to  spare 
from  the  horrors  of  a  bombardment  on  the  representation 
of  foreigners,  that  the  military  had  no  interest  in  the 
place.  But  while  the  flag  of  truce  was  flying  from  the 
mastheads,  in  agreement  with  the  arrangements  made,  and 
by  which  the  commodore  was  to  retire  unmolested,  one 
of  the  prize  schooners  got  aground  below  the  town,  and 
a  brisk  fire  of  musketry  was  immediately  opened  upon  her 
from  the  shore.  Lieutenant  Morris  being  sent  from  the 
flag  ship  to  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Parker,  who 
commanded  the  stranded  vessel,  was  also  fired  upon 


THE    WAR.  213 

Taking  of  Tampico. 


and  mortally  wounded.  The  vessel  however  was  got 
off,  and  a  severe  vengeance  taken  upon  the  town  before 
the  fleet  departed.  At  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1847, 
Commodore  Perry  found  it  necessary  to  pay  another 
visit  to  Tobasco,  to  show  the  people  there  that  they 
were  not  forgotten. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  1846,  Commodore  Conner 
sailed  for  Tampico,  which  surrendered  on  the  14th 
without  resistance.  The  guns  belonging  to  the  enemy 
at  Tampico  had  been  carried  to  Panuco,  a  town  of  some 
five  thousand  inhabitants,  eighty  miles  inland,  on  the 
Panuco  river.  Commander  Tatnall  was  sent  thither 
with  the  steamer  Spitfire  and  the  schooner  Petrel,  landed 
a  hundred  men,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
town  which  was  complied  with ;  the  inhabitants  being 
extremely  polite  and  communicative,  informing  the  com 
mander  where  all  the  military  stores  were  placed.  The 
result  of  the  expedition  was  the  capture  of  eleven  guns, 
which  were  on  their  way  to  San  Luis  Potosi  for  the  use 
of  the  Mexican  forces,  and  the  destruction  by  bui  ning 
and  sinking  in  the  river,  of  army  equipments  to  the 
amount  of  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

After  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  Commodore  Perry 
and  General  Scott  planned  an  attack  upon  Alvarado, 
which  had  twice  repulsed  the  forces  of  the  navy.  While 
the  formidable  array  which  was  to  accomplish  this  ob 
ject  was  preparing,  Lieutenant  Hunter  was  despatched 
in  the  little  steamer  Scourge  to  blockade  the  town.  He 
sailed  thither,  opened  a  fire  upon  the  place  with  round 
shot  and  shell,  stood  off  and  on  during  the  night,  and 
in  the  morning  received  the  surrender  of  the  town,  the 
garrison  frightened  out  of  their  propriety,  having  run 


214  THE    WAR. 

Burning  of  the  Creole. 


away  in  the  night.  The  city-by-brevet  being  captured, 
the  American  flag  was  hoisted  and  saluted  with  twenty- 
one  guns,  and  the  little  steamer  proceeded  up  the  river 
in  pursuit  of  several  vessels  which  were  hastening  up  the 
river  laden  with  arms,  ammunition,  and  public  property. 
Four  schooners  were  captured,  one  of  which  was  burned, 
another  abandoned  as  worthless,  and  the  two  others 
carried  away  as  prizes.  The  city  of  Tlacotalpam,  con 
taining  seven  thousand  inhabitants,  was  summoned  to 
surrender  within  half  an  hour,  and  the  demand  was 
complied  with.  The  higher  authorities  of  the  navy  put 
a  grave  face  upon  this  comical  achievement,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Hunter  was  court-martialed,  found  guilty  of 
disobedience  of  orders,  and  sentenced  to  be  publicly 
reprimanded. 

The  reprimand  was  worded  with  much  severity ;  but 
the  conduct  of  the  lieutenant  seems  to  have  been  gene 
rally  approved  by  his  countrymen,  and  the  government 
gave  him  the  command  of  the  United  States  schooner 
Taney,  destined  for  a  cruise  in  the  Mediterranean. 

One  of  the  most  daring  achievements  of  the  war, 
which  was  followed  closely  by  one  of  its  most  lament 
able  occurrences  we  have  omitted  to  notice.  We  close 
our  account  of  the  naval  operation  with  a  notice  of  these 
incidents. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1846,  Lieutenant  Parker, 
with  Midshipmen  Rodgers  and  Hynson,  and  a  crew  of 
six  men,  rowed  into  the  harbour  of  Vera  Cruz  in  a  small 
boat,  Jnd  burned  the  Mexican  barque  Creole,  anchored 
under  the  guns  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa. 
These  officers  belonged  to  the  beautiful  brig  Somers, 
and  had  performed  this  skilful  and  daring  feat  to  sig- 


THE    WAR.  217 

Kearny' s  march,  for  New  Mexico. 

nalize  themselves  whilst  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron 
were  on  the  expedition  to  Tampico.  The  gallantry  of 
the  crew  of  the  Somers  was  more  fully  exemplified, 
however,  on  the  occasion  of  the  loss  by  shipwreck  of 
that  vessel.  While  endeavouring  to  intercept  a  sail  that 
had  hove  in  sight,  a  squall  from  the  north  struck  her  and 
threw  her  on  her  beam  ends,  and  in  a  few  minutes  she 
filled  and  sunk.  Midshipmen  Clemson  and  Hynson, 
with  thirty-nine  of  the  crew,  lost  their  lives ;  the  others 
were  picked  up  by  the  crews  of  the  English,  French, 
and  Spanish  men-of-war  lying  near  by 


We  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  conquest  of  New 
Mexico. 

In  June,  1846,  a  military  force  of  three  hundred 
United  States  dragoons,  and  three  thousand  Missouri 
volunteers,  was  concentrated  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  on 
the  Missouri  river,  under  General  Stephen  W.  Kearny, 
destined  for  the  subjugation  of  New  Mexico.  General 
Kearny  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Santa  Fe,  eight 
hundred  and  forty  miles  distant,  on  the  22d  of  June, 
and  on  the  18th  of  August  took  possession  of  the  city 
with  the  principal  division  of  his  forces.  He  issued,  on 
the  22 d,  a  proclamation  calling  on  the  people  who  had 
left  their  houses  to  return,  and  promising  to  protect  all 
who  should  remain  quiet  and  peaceable.  Five  days 
afterwards  he  completed  the  organization  of  a  free 
government,  appointed  Charles  Bent  governor,  and  fixed 
a  code  of  municipal  laws.  On  the  25th  of  September 
he  set  out  from  Santa  Fe,  upon  the  route  for  Upper  Cali 
fornia,  with  the  dragoons  under  Major  Sumner,  and  two 
mountain  howitzers.  Colonel  Doniphan  was  left  in 

10 


218  THE    WAR. 


Murder  of  Governor  Bent  and  others. 


command  at  Santa  Fe,  Colonel  Price  with  the  second 
division  of  the  forces  having  not  yet  arrived. 

At  Albuquerque,  General  Kearny  received  such  in 
formation  from  California,  as  induced  him  to  send  back 
two  hundred  of  the  dragoons,  leaving  orders  for  the 
Mormon  battalion  which  formed  part  of  his  forces,  to 
follow  in  his  trail.  From  La  Joya,  two  hundred  miles 
below  Santa  Fe,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  he  sent  an  order 
to  Colonel  Doniphan  to  make  a  campaign  against  the 
Narajo  Indians,  who  inhabited  the  country  between  the 
Rio  Grande  and  the  Colorado  of  the  West.  Colonel 
Doniphan  was  employed  on  this  successful  expedition 
until  the  14th  of  December. 

Leaving  Colonel  Price  in  command  at  Santa  Fe, 
Colonel  Doniphan  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  on 
the  17th  of  December,  with  his  own  regiment  and 
a  command  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mitchell.  The 
departure  of  this  force,  and  the  Mormon  battalion,  left 
Colonel  Price  about  fifteen  hundred  men.  About  the 
time  of  Colonel  Doniphan's  departure  a  revolution  was 
concocted  by  several  of  the  citizens  of  the  province, 
which,  however,  was  discovered  and  apparently  sup 
pressed.  Nearly  all  the  most  influential  persons  in  the 
vicinity  of  Santa  Fe  were  concerned  in  it.  On  the 
nineteenth  of  January,  Governor  Bent,  with  five  others, 
was  murdered  at  Hernando  de  Taos,  seven  more  at  the 
Arroya  Honda,  and  two  at  the  Rio  Colorado.  It  ap 
peared  to  be  the  object  of  the  insurrectionists  to  put  to 
death  every  American,  and  every  Mexican,  who  had 
taken  office  under  the  new  government.  The  insur 
gents  having  gathered  in  considerable  force,  a  battle 
was  fought  on  the  24th  of  January,  at  Canada,  which 


THE   WAR.  219 

Battle  of  Pueblo  do  Taoa. 

they  commenced  by  an  attack  on  Colonel  Price,  who 
repulsed  them. 

On  the  29th,  the  enemy  were  discovered  to  the  num 
ber  of  six  or  seven  hundred,  occupying  a  very  strong 
position  on  the  mountains  at  either  side  of  the  pass 
which  leads  to  Embudo,  and  which  was  only  wide 
enough  to  admit  of  the  passage  of  three  men  marching 
abreast.  Captain  Burgwin  with  one  hundred  and  eighty 
men,  rank  and  file,  attacked  them,  ascended  the  hills 
and  forced  them  to  fly  with  a  heavy  loss.  They  retreated 
over  the  steep  and  rugged  sides  of  the  mountains  with  a 
speed  that  defied  pursuit.  Embudo  was  then  surrendered. 
Marching  through  snow,  and  beating  it  down  into  a 
road  for  artillery,  on  the  3d,  the  army  reached  the  city 
of  Pueblo  de  Taos,  which  was  found  to  be  admirably 
fortified.  On  the  4th,  it  was  attacked  by  our  gallant 
little  army  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  the  battle 
raged  with  great  fierceness  until  night.  The  Americans 
at  that  time  had  made  themselves  masters  of  a  part  of 
the  town,  and  at  daybreak  next  morning  the  enemy 
sued  for  peace.  It  was  granted  on  condition  of  the 
delivery  of  Tomas,  one  of  the  principal  conspirators, 
who  was  shot.  The  other  leaders  met  a  similar  fate. 

Having  defeated  the  enemy  wherever  they  were  to 
be  found  and  thereby  crushed  the  revolution,  Colonel 
Price  found  himself  again  quietly  established  in  the 
government  of  New  Mexico.  He  had  in  the  three  battles, 
killed  two  hundred  and  six  of  the  enemy,  and  wounded 
a  much  larger  number,  with  the  loss  of  only  eight 
killed,  and  fifty-two  wounded  on  his  own  side,  and  had 
exhibited  a  degree  of  vigilance  and  gallantry  calculated 
to  inspire  the  people  with  awe  and  respect. 


220  THE    WAR. 

Battle  of  Sacramento. 


Colonel  Doniphan,  on  the  march  for  El  Paso  del  Norte, 
was  attacked  on  Christmas  day,  at  Brazito,  by  a  Mexi 
can  force  of  eleven  hundred  men.  The  American  force 
engaged  numbered  four  hundred  and  fifty.  The  battle 
was  decided  in  forty  minutes,  by  the  flight  of  the  enemy, 
leaving  sixty-three  killed,  one  hundred  and  fifty  wound 
ed,  and  one  howitzer.  On  the  29th,  the  city  of  El  Paso 
was  taken  without  opposition.  Leaving  El  Paso  on  the 
8th  of  February,  the  army  marched  on  the  city  of  Chi 
huahua.  At  the  pass  of  the  Sacramento,  the  enemy 
was  discovered  in  great  force :  twelve  hundred  cavalry 
and  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty  infantry, 
artillerists,  and  rancheros,  with  ten  pieces  of  artillery. 
Colonel  Doniphan  commanded  nine  hundred  and  twen 
ty-four  effective  men,  who  were  obliged  to  protect  a 
train  of  three  hundred  and  fifteen  traders'  wagons,  be 
sides  the  regular  army  train.  The  enemy's  infantry 
were  securely  posted  behind  a  series  of  twenty-seven 
redoubts.  While  the  two  twelve-pound  howitzers  un- 
limbered  within  fifty  yards  of  the  enemy,  and  supported 
by  the  cavalry,  poured  destruction  into  his  ranks,  the 
infantry  and  riflemen  charged  the  intrenchments  with 
the  utmost  coolness  and  rapidity,  delivering  a  deadly 
fire,  and  then  clearing  the  redoubts  with  their  sabres. 
The  enemy  fled  over  the  mountains  in  great  confusion, 
losing  his  entire  artillery,  ten  wagons,  masses  of  pro 
visions,  three  hundred  killed,  and  as  many  wounded. 
The  Americans  lost  the  incredibly  small  number  of  one 
man  killed,  and  eight  wounded,  one  of  whom  after 
wards  died.  This  victory  was  gained  on  the  28th  of 
February.  On  the  1st  of  March  formal  possession  was 
taken  of  Chihuahua.  On  the  23d  of  April,  Colonel 


THE    WAR.  221 

Doniphan's  return  to  the  United  States. 

Doniphan  received  orders  from  General  Wool  to  march 
to  Saltillo  with  his  command.  He  reached  that  place 
on  the  23d  of  May,  having  taken  eight  or  ten  Mexican 
cities  on  the  route.  On  the  27th,  he  reached  Monterey, 
where  his  command  was  reviewed  by  General  Taylor. 
The  account  of  the  battle  of  Sacramento  given  by  Colo 
nel  Doniphan  to  General  Taylor  is  very  amusing.  We 
extract  it  from  Frank  Edwards's  new  work,  "  A  Campaign 
with  Colonel  Doniphan." 

u  While  we  were  at  Walnut  Springs,  General  Tay 
lor  addressed  Colonel  Doniphan  thus  : — By-the-by,  Colo 
nel,  every  one  is  talking  of  your  charge  at  Sacramento. 
I  understand  it  was  a  brilliant  affair.  I  wish  you  would 
give  me  a  description  of  it,  and  of  your  manceuvers." 
"Manceuvers  be  hanged,"  returned  Doniphan,  and 
added,  "  I  don't  know  any  thing  about  the  charge,  ex 
cept  that  my  boys  kept  coming  to  me  to  let  them  charge, 
but  I  would  not  permit  them ;  for  I  was  afraid  they 
would  be  all  cut  to  pieces.  At  last  I  saw  a  favourable 
moment  and  told  them  they  might  go — they  were  off 
like  a  shot — and  that's  all  I  know  about  it." 

From  Monterey  Colonel  Doniphan  marched  to  the 
Brazos,  and  there  took  passage  to  New  Orleans,  the  term 
of  service  of  his  troops  having  expired. 

In  the  spring  of  1846,  Captain,  now  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  John  C.  Fremont  was  sent  with  sixty-one  men  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  topographical  corps  to 
make  an  exploration  of  Upper  California.  He  found 
soon  after  his  entrance  into  that  territory,  that  its  go 
vernor,  General  Castro,  was  preparing  to  attack  him. 
He  promptly  assumed  the  initiative,  captured  thirteen 
men  and  two  hundred  horses  on  the  llth  of  June,  and 


222  THE    WAR. 

Kearny  reconquers  the  City  of  the  Angels. 

on  the  15th  took  possession  of  the  Sanoma  Pass,  con 
taining  nine  cannon,  two  hundred  and  fifty  muskets, 
and  a  small  garrison.  Having  marched  toward  the 
Sacramento  river,  he  learned  that  General  Castro  was 
about  to  attack  the  garrison  he  had  left  at  Sanoma,  and 
hurried  back  with  ninety  riflemen  raised'  among  the 
American  settlers  in  California,  and  dispersed  the  ad 
vance  guard  of  General  Castro,  who  thereupon  retired 
to  Santa  Clara.  Meanwhile  Commodore  Sloat  had 
taken  the  sea-port  of  Monterey,  on  the  Pacific,  and  was 
prepared  to  act  in  conjunction  with  Fremont  against 
Castro.  On  the  12th  of  August,  a  body  of  riflemen 
under  Fremont  and  Stockton,  Sloat's  successor,  took 
possession  of  the  City  of  Angels,  and  Stockton  appointed 
Fremont  governor. 

On  the  llth  of  December,  General  Kearny  reached 
the  city  of  San  Diego,  in  California,  having  gained  a 
victory  five  days  previously  at  San  Pasqual,  after  a 
severe  conflict,  in  which  the  general  himself,  with  many 
of  his  officers  and  men  were  wounded,  and  two  captains, 
one  lieutenant,  and  fourteen  others  killed.  On  the  8th 
of  January,  he  fought  another  battle  with  the  enemy,  on 
his  march  to  regain  possession  of  the  City  of  the  Angels, 
which  had  been  retaken  by  the  Mexicans.  He  was 
victorious,  and  the  city  was  taken,  while  Fremont  on  the 
march  thither  with  four  hundred  volunteers  from  the 
Sacramento,  met  the  retreating  enemy,  who  capitulated, 
laying  down  their  arms.  These  operations  completed 
the  conquest  of  California. 


Major-General  Taylor. 


GENERAL  ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 

OMITTING  genealogical  de 
tails,  we  come  at  once  to 
the  fact  that  Major- General 
Zachary  Taylor,  4he  third  son 
of  Colonel  Richard  Taylor, 
was  born  in  Orange  county, 
Virginia,  on  the  24th  of  No 
vember,  1784.  In  the  suc 
ceeding  summer  Colonel  Tay 
lor  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
then  just  beginning  to  be  settled,  and  his  children  from 
their  earliest  years  were  inured  to  the  hardships  and 
perils  of  frontier  life.  His  first  military  lessons  are  said 
to  have  been  from  a  man  named  Whetsel,  who  loaded 
10*  225 


226  THE    WARRIORS. 


Commands  Fort  Harrison. 


his  rifle  while  running  and  successively  killed  four 
Indians,  who  were  pursuing  him.  Zachary  Taylor  was 
enrolled  as  a  volunteer  in  one  of  the  companies  formed  to 
oppose  any  scheme  that  might  be  concocted  by  Aaron 
Burr,  during  his  suspicious  sojourn  in  the  west.  In  May, 
1808,  he  received  a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  in  the 
7th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry,  the  vacancy  he  was 
appointed  to  fill  having  been  made  by  the  death  of  his 
brother.  He  was  ordered  to  report  himself  to  General 
Wilkinson  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  taken  with 
the  yellow  fever,  and  recovered  with  a  constitution  so 
much  shattered  as  to  compel  his  temporary  retirement 
from  active  service. 

General  Harrison  having  been  ordered  to  march  into 
the  Indian  country,  erected  a  block-house  and  stockade 
on  the  Wabash,  which  afterwards  was  called  Fort  Har 
rison.  Lieutenant  Taylor  was^employed  in  the  perilous 
duty  of  watching  the  movements  of  the  hostile  savages 
at  this  post,  and  performed  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
be  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  beginning  of  1812. 
He  was  then  placed  in  command  of  Fort  Harrison,  and 
in  September,  1812,  made  his  memorable  successful 
defense  of  that  post,  with  a  sickly  garrison  of  fifty  men, 
against  a  large  body  of  Indians  of  Tecumseh's  party-. 
The  attack  WuS  begun  at  midnight  and  the  lower  build 
ing  was  set  on  fire  by  the  enemy.  The  flames  soon 
reached  the  store-room  where  a  quantity  of  whisky 
took  fire,  aj.i  spread  the  conflagration  rapidly.  By  great 
perseveren.e  and  presence  of  mind,  however,  the  fire 
was  stopped  in  the  building  where  it  commenced,  and 
^the  garrison  kept  up  a  steady  discharge  of  musketry 
upon  the  enemy,  who  continued  the  assault  for  seven 


ZACHARY    TAYLOR.  227 

Defense  of  Fort  Harrison. 

hours.  They  then  retired,  carrying  off  the  horses  and 
cattle.  The  danger  to  which  the  whisky  thus  exposed 
the  gallant  captain,  of  death  by  flames  on  one  side,  or 
savage  arms  on  the  other,  was  probably  remembered 
when  he  issued  stringent  orders  against  those  who  dealt 
in  that  article  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

General  Hopkins  said  of  this  achievement,  in  a  letter 
to  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  "  the  firm  and  almost  un 
paralleled  defense  of  Fort  Harrison  by  Captain  Zachaiy 
Taylor,  has  raised  for  him  a  fabric  of  character  not  to  be 
effaced  by  eulogy."  The  government  acknowledged  it 
by  conferring  upon  Taylor  the  rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

In  October  and  November,  Major  Taylor,  in  com 
mand  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  and  accompanied  by 
General  Hopkins,  made  two  expeditions  into  the  Indian 
country  ;  one  against  the  Kickapoo  villages  on  the 
Illinois  river,  the  other  against  the  settlements  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Tippecanoe.  No  general  engagement 
was  fought,  but  they  were  attended  with  many  hardships 
and  privations,  and  proved  of  incalculable  benefits  to 
the  territories  of  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Several  of  the 
enemy's  towns,  and  large  quantities  of  provisions  were 
destroyed.  This  demonstration  of  our  strength  inspired 
them  with  awe.  In  the  winter  of  1813  Major  Taylor  was 
appointed  to  superintend  the  recruiting  service  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  in  which  he  continued  with  industry  and 
success  until  July.  In  that  month  he  proceeded  with 
a  force  of  Rangers  and  Kentucky  volunteers  against  the 
Massassinawa  town  near  the  source  of  the  Wabash. 
The  town  was  found  abandoned,  and  meeting  with  no 
supply  of  provisions,  the  detachment  was  exposed  during 
its  return  to  the  severest  privations. 


228  THE     WARRIORS. 

Ordered  to  erect  a  fort  on  Rock  river. 

In  the  spring  of  1814  he  was  ordered  to  St.  Louis,  to 
lake  command  of  the  troops  in  the  Missouri  territory, 
and  was  actively  employed  on  its  frontiers  until  August. 
It  was  then  ascertained  that  the  British  had  taken  Fort 
Shelby  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  were  in  great  force  on 
the  Mississippi,  with  regulars  and  Indian  allies.  General 
Howard  was  furnished  with  ten  companies  of  badly 
organized  rangers,  and  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
efficient  regulars,  to  protect  the  frontier  of  Indiana,  Illi 
nois,  and  Missouri,  and  restrain  the  depredations  of  the 
various  savage  tribes.  With  these  slender  resources  he 
had  to  protect  the  interior  settlements,  and  furnish  de 
tachments  to  invade  the  Indian  territory.  Of  these,  that 
which  ascended  the  Mississippi,  under  Major  Taylor, 
was  the  most  important  in  its  objects  and  the  most 
beneficial  in  its  results. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  1814,  Major  Taylor  received 
orders  to  take  command  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
men,  principally  militia,  provided  with  boats  and  a  few 
pieces  of  artillery,  to  ascend  the  Mississippi  as  high  as 
the  Indian  village  at  the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  to  destroy 
the  villages  and  corn,  to  disperse  the  Indians,  and  erect 
a  fort  on  the  most  eligible  site  to  command  the  river. 
The  leading  objects  of  the  expedition  were  to  restrain 
the  Indians  by  the  establishment  of  a  military  post  in 
the  heart  of  their  country,  and  to  arrest  the  descent  of 
the  British  forces  on  -St.  Louis.  The  general  closes  his 
orders  to  the  commanding  officer  thus:  "should  this 
command  succeed  in  effecting  all  the  objects  for  which 
it  is  intended  the  beneficial  consequences  to  our  country 
will  be  great.  On  the  other  hand,  should  this  movement 
be  stamped  with  disaster,  no  longer  can  even  a  hope  be 


ZACHAHY   TAYLOR.  229 

Skirmish  -with  tlie  Indians. 

indulged  of  the  frontiers  maintaining  their  ground.  But 
from  the  officer  who  commands  and  those  commanded 
by  him,  the  most  flattering  expectations  may  be  in 
dulged."  Thus  was  the  fate  of  the  frontier  a  second  time 
staked  on  the  fortunes  of  the  defender  of  Fort  Harrison. 

In  pursuance. of  his  orders,  Major  Taylor  proceeded  to 
the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  against  a  rapid  current  and 
amid  the  dangers  of  a  lurking  enemy,  five  hundred  miles 
above  the  highest  settlement  or  post  on  the  Mississippi. 
Contrary  to  his  expectations,  and  those  of  the  general,  he 
found  a  detachment  of  British  troops,  well  supplied  with 
artillery,  and  an  immense  body  of  Indians  in  possession 
of  the  place.  After  skirmishing  with  the  Indians,  and 
being  sometime  cannonaded  by  the  British,  without  a 
possibility  of  returning  their  fire  with  effect,  he  dropped 
down  to  the  rapid  Desmoines,  and  having  landed  his 
forces,  secured  his  boats,  and  fortified  his  camp,  and 
commenced  a  fort  so  situated  as  to  command  the  Mis 
sissippi  and  the  mouth  of  the  Desmoines.  The  erection 
of  this  fort  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  at  so  great  a 
distance  from  the  source  of  supply,  was  attended  with 
peculiar  hazard,  and  almost  incredible  privation  and 
toil.  But  the  judgment,  resolution,  and  skill  of  the 
commander,  seconded  by  his  animating  example,  sur 
mounted  every  obstacle,  enabled  him  to  complete  his 
important  labour  and  to  realize  the  most  sanguine  ex 
pectations  of  his  superior. 

The  death  of  General  Howard  in  October,  called 
Major  Taylor  to  St.  Louis.  In  November  he  accom 
panied  Colonel  Russell  several  hundred  miles  up  the 
Missouri,  to  secure  a  small  settlement  on  that  river,  left 
much  exposed  to  Indian  depredations.  In  December 


230  THE   WARRIORS. 

His  personal  appearance  and  character. 

he  was  again  ordered  to  Vincennes  to  take  command  of 
the  troops  in  Indiana,  where  he  remained  until  the  con 
clusion  of  peace, 

"When  we  look  back,"  says  Mr.  Breckenridge,  in  a 
biographical  sketch  of  General  Taylor,  written  thirty 
years  since  ;  "  when  we  look  back  on  the  many  import 
ant  services  rendered  by  this  officer  to  his  country  during 
the  late  war  ;  when  we  reflect  on  the  peculiar  perils  and 
hardships  to  which  those  services  must  have  perpetually 
exposed  him,  performing  as  he  did,  in  one  year,  marches 
in  the  territories  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri, 
amounting  to  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  and  find 
no  solitary  instance  in  which  the  extent  of  his  achieve 
ments  did  not  exceed  the  scanty  measure  of  his  means , 
we  cannot  restrain  the  expression  of  our  regret  at  his 
detention  from  those  glorious  fields  of  civilized  combat, 
where  his  genius  might  have  borne  him  to  nobler  enter 
prise,  and  his  valour  displayed  itself  on  a  more  conspicu 
ous  theatre.  ***** 

"With  a  frame  fitted  for  the  most  active  and  hardy 
enterprise,  an  ardent  spirit,  a  sanguine  temper,  and  an 
invincible  courage,  gifted  with  a  rapid  discernment,  a 
discriminating  judgment,  and  a  deep  knowledge  of  man 
kind,  and  possessing  a  heart  susceptible  of  the  most 
generous  impulses  of  humanity,  we  regard  Major  Taylor 
as  an  officer  of  peculiar  promise,  and  hazard,  we  think, 
but  little  in  the  prediction  that,  in  the  event  of  a  war  at 
no  distant  period,  between  the  United  States  and  Eng 
land  or  Spain,  riding  on  the  tide  of  military  glory,  he 
will  find  his  true  level  at  the  head  of  the  army." 

The  reduction  of  the  army  list  on  the  conclusion  of 
trie  war,  led  to  the  change  of  Major  Taylor's  rank  to  that 


ZACHARY    TAYLOB.  231 

Anecdote. 

of  a  captain.  He  resigned  in  consequence,  but  in  a  year 
he  was  restored  to  the  service  and  his  former  rank  by 
President  Madison.  He  was  employed  in  the  monoto 
nous  life  of  a  soldier  in  time  of  peace  until  he  became 
engaged  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1832.  He  then 
held  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was  detached  by  General 
Atkinson  to  pursue  the  Indians  after  they  had  fled  over 
the  Wisconsin.  He  met  them  at  a  place  called  the  Bad 
Axe,  and,  though  they  fought  with  the  energy  of  despair, 
totally  defeated  them.  The  betrayal  of  Black  Hawk 
shortly  afterwards  put  an  end  to  this  war.  An  anecdote 
related  of  his  conduct  during  this  war  by  a  writer  in  the 
"  Literary  World,"  gives  an  amusing  example  of  his 
decision  of  character.  He  states  that  "  while  pursuing 
Black  Hawk  with  a  mixed  force  of  volunteers  and  regu 
lars,  he  found  himself  approaching  Rock  river,  then 
said  to  be  the  north-western  boundary  of  Illinois.  The 
volunteers,  as  Taylor  was  informed,  would  refuse  to 
cross  the  stream.  They  were  militia,  they  said,  called 
out  for  the  defense  of  the  state,  and  it  was  unconstitu 
tional  to  order  them  to  march  beyond  its  frontier  into 
the  Indian  country.  Taylor  thereupon  halted  his  com 
mand  and  encamped  within  the  acknowledged  boun 
daries  of  Illinois.  He  would  not,  as  the  relator  of  the 
story  said,  budge  an  inch  farther  without  orders.  He 
had  already  driven  Black  Hawk  out  of  the  state,  but  the 
question  of  crossing  Rock  river  seemed  hugely  to 
trouble  his  ideas  of  integrity  to  the  constitution  on  one 
side,  and  military  expediency  on  the  other.  During  the 
night,  however,  orders  came,  either  from  General  Scott  or 
General  Atkinson,  for  him  to  follow  up  Black  Hawk  to 
the  last.  The  quietness  of  the  regular  colonel  had  rather 


232  THE    WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

encouraged  the  mutinous  militia  to  bring  their  proceed 
ings  to  a  head.  A  sort  of  town  meeting  was  called  upon 
the  prairie,  and  Taylor  invited  to  attend.  After  listening 
some  time  quietly  to  the  proceedings,  it  became  Rough 
and  Ready's  turn  to  address  the  chair.  *  He  had  heard,' 
he  said,  '  with  much  pleasure  the  views  which  several 
speakers  had  expressed  of  the  independence  and  dignity 
of  each  private  American  citizen.  He  felt  that  all  gen 
tlemen  there  present  were  his  equals — in  reality,  he  was 
persuaded  that  many  of  them  would  in  a  few  years  be 
his  superiors,  and  perhaps  in  the  capacity  of  members 
of  Congress,  arbiters  of  the  fortunes  and  reputation  of 
humble  servants  of  the  republic  like  himself.  He  ex 
pected  then  to  obey  them  as  the  interpreters  of  the  will 
of  the  people ;  and  the  best  proof  he  could  give  that  he 
would  obey  them  was  now  to  observe  the  orders  of  those 
whom  the  people  had  already  put  in  the  places  of  author 
ity,  to  which  many  gentlemen  around  him  justly  aspired. 
In  plain  English,  gentlemen  and  fellow-citizens,  the  word 
has  been  passed  on  to  me  from  Washington  to  follow 
Black  Hawk,  and  to  take  you  with  me  as  soldiers.  I 
mean  to  do  both.  There  are  the  flat  boats  drawn  up  on 
the  shore,  and  here  are  Uncle  Sam's  men  drawn  up 
behind  you  on  the  prairie.' '  No  answer  could  be  made 
to  such  an  argument.  Instant  obedience  followed. 

When  the  command  of  Major  Bade  had  been  mas 
sacred  in  Florida,  the  government  determined  to  prose 
cute  hostilities  against  the  enemy  with  vigour,  and 
Colonel  Taylor  was  ordered  to  the  seat  of  war.  In 
December,  1837,  he  received  orders  to  seek  out  any 
portion  of  the  enemy,  wherever  to  be  found,  and  to  de 
stroy  or  capture  his  forces.  He  soon  displayed  his  skill 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR.  233 

Battle  of  Okes-Cliobee. 

in  finding  an  Indian  enemy,  and  his  ability  in  defeat 
ing  him.  He  was  informed  that  the  Micasukies  had 
determined  to  fight  him,  and  he  was  determined  to  in 
dulge  them,  and  accordingly  the  conflict  took  place  on 
the  25th  of  December,  on  the  shore  of  lake  Okee-Chobee. 
The  Indians,  after  a  severe  conflict,  were  beaten,  and 
driven  at  all  points.  They  had  several  hundred  war 
riors  engaged  in  an  admirable  position,  which  they 
defended  for  two  hours  and  a  half  with  the  greatest 
gallantry,  killing  and  wounding  one-fifth  of  Taylor's 
whole  command.  After  the  victory,  Colonel  Taylor 
turned  his  whole  attention  to  the  care  of  the  wounded, 
who  were  most  tenderly  treated.  For  his  services  in 
this  affair,  Colonel  Taylor  received  the  thanks  of  the 
president,  and  promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gene 
ral  by  brevet. 

General  Taylor  continued  to  prosecute  hostilities 
against  the  savages  until  April,  1840,  when  he  was 
relieved  by  General  Armistead. 

He  was  then  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  first 
department  of  the  army  in  the  south-west,  and  continued 
in  the  service  there  until,  as  we  have  already  seen,  he 
was  ordered  to  Corpus  Christi.  We  have  already  given 
detailed  accounts  of  the  four  brilliant  achievements 
which  have  made  his  name  so  universally  popular 
throughout  our  country,  and  we  will  not  now  repeat 
them.  We  pass  on  to  narrate  such  anecdotes  of  him  as 
will  serve  to  give  the  best  idea  of  the  man  and  his 
character. 

When  his  reply  to  the  communication  of  Ampudia 
respecting  the  blockading  of  the  Rio  Grande  was  pub 
lished,  it  received  the  universal  approbation  of  the 


234  THE    WARRIORS. 

Anecdotes. 

soldiers  and  their  patriotic  countrymen,  and  all  felt 
assured  that  the  honour  of  the  country  was  safe  in  his 
hands.  The  troops  felt  that  the  man  who  could  talk  in 
such  a  manner  was  able  to  make  good  his  words,  and 
his  order  issued  when  about  to  march  from  Matamoras 
to  Point  Isabel,  on  the  7th  of  May,  assured  them  of  a 
speedy  victory.  He  spoke  to  his  inferior  force  of  raw 
troops  as  to  veterans,  and  in  the  confident  tone  of  one 
who  knows  his  own  power,  assured  them  of  victory,  and 
reminded  them  to  place  their  main  dependence  on  the 
bayonet,  and  as  if  his  words  had  not  been  sufficient,  his 
demeanour  on  the  battle-field  was  such  as  to  make  the 
veriest  coward  dare  a  hundred  deaths  in  his  cause. 
When  one  of  his  officers  saw  him  sitting  on  his  horse  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  with  his  sword  drawn,  while 
the  balls  were  rattling  around  him,  and  desired  him  to 
retire  a  short  distance,  where  his  person  would  not  be 
so  much  exposed,  he  smiled  good-humouredly,  and 
anwered,  "  let  us  ride  a  little  nearer,  the  balls  will  fall 
behind  us." 

When  the  Mexican  lancers  made  a  charge  upon  the 
American  right  at  Palo  Alto,  and  the  5th  infantry  stood 
ready  to  receive  it,  General  Taylor  rode  up  and  said, 
"  Men,  I  place  myself  in  your  square."  How  could  a 
man  falter  after  such  a  mark  of  confidence  ? 

Somewhat  in  the  style  of  his  speech  to  the  militia 
men,  is  the  remark  made  to  General  Ricardo,  who  ex 
culpated  his  troops  from  the  charge  of  stripping  and 
mutilating  the  American  dead,  by  saying  that  the  women 
and  rancheros  did  it ;  that  they  could  not  control  them. 
General  Taylor  replied,  "  I  am  coming  over  to  Mata 
moras,  and  I'll  control  them  for  you." 


ZACHAB.Y     TAYLOR.  236 

Anecdotes. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  President  Polk  wrote  to  him, 
forwarding  a  commission  as  brevet  major-general,  and 
complimenting  him  on  "  the  bright  page  he*had  added 
to  American  history."  The  legislature  of  Louisiana 
passed  a  vote  of  thanks,  and  ordered  a  sword  to  be  pre 
sented  to  him.  By  an  act  of  Congress  he  was  promoted 
to  be  a  full  major-general. 

At  Monterey,  he  was  in  the  town  with  his  staff  on 
foot,  walking  about  perfectly  regardless  of  danger,  where 
the  shot  flew  about  as  "  if  bushels  of  hickory  nuts  were 
hurled  at  us."  Captain  Henry  says  that  seeing  him 
crossing  a  street  in  a  walk,  while  such  a  terrible  cross 
fire  swept  it  that  it  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  escape, 
he  ran  across  and  reminded  him  how  much  he  was  ex 
posing  himself.  The  answer  the  gallant  captain  received 
was,  "  Take  an  axe  and  knock  in  that  door."  Another 
officer,  noticing  his  conduct  in  the  streets  of  Monterey, 
says,  "  He  was  as  cool  as  a  cucumber,  and  ordered  us 
to  pass  into  the  city  and  break  open  the  houses.  God 
knows  how  many  of  us  got  out." 

Speaking  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  Captain  Henry 
says  in  his  Campaign  Sketches,  "  Our  rear  was  in 
danger ;  the  tide  of  battle  was  decidedly  against  us ;  the 
fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  cast  upon  a  die,  when,  at 
this  critical  juncture,  General  Taylor  arrived  upon  the 
field,  and  occupied  a  commanding  position  upon  an  ele 
vated  plateau.  His  presence  restored  confidence.  *  *  * 
General  Taylor  stood  calm  and  unmoved  upon  the  pla 
teau — all  eyes  were  turned  upon  him.  The  leaden  mes 
sengers  of  death  -swept  harmlessly  by  his  person,  while 
iiundreds  were  passing  to  futurity.  Bragg,  with  his  bat 
tery  had  arrived  at  the  point  of  fearful  struggle.  Alone 


236  THE     WARRIORS. 


Anecdote. 


and  unsupported  was  that  battery  and  that  brave  old 
chief.  Confident  to  the  last  of  victory,  he  ordered  his 
trusty  captain  to  unlimber — to  load  with  grape,  and 
await  the  arrival  of  their  masses  until  they  nearly 
reached  the  muzzles  of  his  pieces.  On  came  the  enemy 
like  legions  of  fiends,  certain  of  victory.  When  almost 
within  grasp  of  the  battery,  Bragg  opened  his  fire.  The 
first  volley  staggered  them,  the  second  opened  streets 
through  their  ranks,  and  the  third  put  them  in  full  re 
treat  and  saved  the  day." 

"  It  was  not,"  says  Colonel  Davis,  "  alone  on  the  bat 
tle  field  that  we  learned  to  love  General  Taylor.  The 
excitement  of  the  carnage  over,  the  same  soul  that  could 
remain  unmoved  when  his  friends  were  falling  like 
leaves  about  him,  who  could  look  unblanched  upon  the 
front  of  the  thundering  artillery,  became  the  poor  soldier's 
most  sympathizing  friend  ;  and  the  eye  so  stern  in  battle 
was  as  mild  as  the  tenderhearted  matron's." 

Wh  >n  the  gallant  Mississippi  regiment  was  about  to 
leave  him,  overpowered  by  the  recollection  of  the  high 
deeds  which  had  endeared  them  to  him,  and  with  their 
demonstrations  of  respect  and  affection,  he  attempted  in 
vain  to  address  them.  With  tears  streamin  down  his 
furrowed  cheeks,  all  he  could  say  was,  "  Go  on,  boys — 
go  on — I  can't  speak."  Such  is  the  character  of  Ge 
neral  Taylor,  as  a  man. 


General  Worth. 


Worth  at  Monterey. 

GENERAL  WILLIAM  J.  WORTH. 

'N  his  youth,  Worth  was  engaged  in 
a  mercantile  business  in  Albany  ;  but 
just  before  the  commencement  of  the 
war  of  1812,  he  left  his  employment, 
and  entered  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try. 

The  first  signal  opportunity  which  occurred  for  dis 
playing  the  military  talent  for  which  he  is  now  so  cele 
brated,  occurred  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  July  5th, 
1814.  In  his  official  account  of  that  battle,  General 
Brown  says,  "the  family  of  General  Scott  were  con 
spicuous  in  the  field,  Lieutenant  Smith,  of  the  6th 
infantry,  the  major  of  the  brigade,  and  Lieutenants 
Worth  and  Watts,  his  aids." 

A  captain's  commission,  dated  August  19th,  1814, 
was  the  result  of  this  notice.  At  the  battle  of  Niagara, 


240  THE     WARRIORS. 

His  victory  at  Palaklaklaha. 

or  Lundy's  Lane,  Captain  Worth  again  distinguished 
himself,  and  was  rewarded  by  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
a  major,  but  a  severe  wound  received  in  the  battle, 
compelled  him  to  remain  for  a  time  inactive.  After  the 
peace,  he  was  some  time,  military  instructor  of  the  West 
Point  Military  Academy.  He  gradually  rose  in  the 
army,  but  found  no  active  service  until  he  was  employed 
against  the  Indians,  in  the  Florida  war.  In  April,  1842, 
he  gained  a  brilliant  victory  at  Palaklaklaha,  which 
brought  the  war  to  a  close  for  a  time.  He  was  made 
brigadier-general  by  brevet,  March  1st,  1842,  but 
some  point  of  military  etiquette  caused  him  to  resign, 
when  the  army  of  occupation  was  lying  before  Mata- 
moras,  by  which  he  was  deprived,  greatly  to  his  regret, 
of  all  participation  in  the  glorious  conflicts  of  the  8th 
and  9th  of  May.  Hearing  of  these  battles,  he  withdrew 
his  resignation,  hastened  to  join  the  standard  of  General 
Taylor,  and  gained  imperishable  renown  at  Monterey. 

General  Taylor  employed  the  other  divisions  of  the 
army  in  making  a  diversion  on  the  east  side  of  the  city, 
in  order  to  favour  the  operations  of  General  Worth,  who 
was  directed  to  gain  the  Saltillo  road  at  its  junction 
with  those  leading  from  the  city,  and  then  when  the 
enemy's  supplies  and  retreat  should  be  cut  off,  to  storm 
the  heights  overlooking  it  and  the  south-western  angle 
of  the  city.  The  fortifications  were  on  one  height,  a 
large  unfinished  structure  designed  for  the  Bishop's 
Palace,  and  known  by  that  name,  and  opposite  the 
Bishop's  Palace,  and  across  the  San  Juan,  (Federation 
Hill,)  two  others,  one  called  from  the  name  of  the  bat 
tery  on  its  crest,  Federation  Hill,  the  other  Soledad,  or 
Soldada. 


WILLIAM    J.    WORTH.  243 

Storming  of  Federation  HILL 

At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  General 
Worth  put  his  division  in  motion,  so  formed  as  to  present 
the  readiest  order  of  battle  at  any  point  at  which  it  might 
be  assailed.  As  he  advanced,  he  found  a  large  body  of 
lancers  drawn  up  to  oppose  him,  and  a  spirited  engage 
ment  ensued  between  them  and  McCulloch's  Texan 
rangers,  aided  by  Captains  C.  F.  Smith  and  Scott,  and 
Duncan's  battery.  The  Mexicans  were  defeated  with 
heavy  loss,  and  driven  beyond  the  gorge  where  all  the 
roads  from  Monterey  united,  and  thereby  shut  out  from 
the  city.  When  his  preparations  were  completed,  at  noon, 
General  Worth  rode  up  to  the  men  he  had  designed  for 
the  storming  of  Federation  Hill,  and  pointing  up  the 
hill,  said  to  them  as  they  moved  off,  "  Men,  you  are  to 
take  that  hill — and  I  know  you  will  do  it."  With  one 
shout  they  replied,  "we  will;"  and  they  did.  The 
words  of  their  general  had  nerved  their  arms  and  in 
spirited  their  hearts,  and  they  crossed  the  river  amid  a 
shower  of  grape  and  musket  balls,  and  advanced  up  the 
hill,  supported  by  reinforcements  sent  in  good  season  by 
the  general,  and  beating  back,  inch  by  inch,  the  gallant 
forces  who  opposed  them.  At  the  top  of  this  hill  a 
cannon  was  captured,  remounted,  and  turned  upon  the 
foe.  The  enemy  had  retreated  to  the  other  peak  of  the 
ridge,  Fort  Soldada,  and  a  perfect  race  now  ensued 
between  the  5th  and  7th  regiments  of  infantry,  and  the 
Texas  rangers,  as  to  which  should  first  enter  that  fortress. 
Captain  Gillespie,  of  the  rangers,  was  the  first  to  mount 
the  works,  but  he  was  so  closely  followed  by  Lieutenant 
Pitcher,  of  the  5th,  that  the  two  regiments  shared 
equally  the  honour  of  having  captured  a  gun,  abandoned 
by  the  enemy  as  he  was  driven  from  the  fort.  The 


THE   WARRIORS 


Capture  of  tlie  Bishop's  Palace. 


cannon  captured  in  these  two  places,  were  immediately 
turned  upon  the  Bishop's  Palace.  The  generalship 
exhibited  by  General  Worth  in  this  affair,  is  deserving 
of  the  highest  praise.  The  completion  of  his  labours  is 
not  less  so.  Before  day  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  a 
detachment  moved  to  assault  the  fortifications  on  Inde 
pendence  Hill,  an  almost  inaccessible  height,  nearly 
perpendicular,  between  seven  and  eight  hundred  feet 
high.  The  party  which  captured  this  formidable  posi 
tion,  was  led  by  Colonel  Childs  and  Captain  John  R. 
Vinton.  His  loss  was  few  in  numbers,  but  among  the 
slain  was  the  gallant  Captain  R.  A.  Gillespie,  who  had 
so  distinguished  himself  on  the  preceding  day.  The 
height  gained,  Lieutenants  Roland,  McPhail,  and  Deas 
succeeded  in  two  hours,  in  raising  a  twelve-pound 
howitzer  to  the  top  of  this  steep  and  rugged  acclivity. 
and  opened  a  terrible  fire  upon  the  Bishop's  Palace,  not 
four  hundred  yards  distant.  By  a  brilliant  maneuver, 
Captain  Vinton  enticed  a  party  of  the  defenders  to  come 
out  of  the  palace,  then  defeated  them,  drove  them  down 
the  hill  beyond  it,  entered  the  palace,  and  overpowered 
its  remaining  defenders.  Thus,  says  Mr.  Kendall,  by  a 
series  of  brilliant,  well-planned,  and  successful  move 
ments,  General  Worth  found  himself  in  full  possession 
of  three  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  the  stronghold  known 
as  the  Bishop's  Palace,  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  intrenching  tools,  two 
of  their  standards,  and  what  was  of  still  greater  impor 
tance,  the  entire  occupation  of  the  Saltillo  road,  and  a 
complete  command  of  all  the  western  portion  of  the  city 
of  Monterey. 

The  street  fight  in  which  General  Worth  participated 


WILLIAM   J.    WORTH.  245 

Capture  of  the  tete  du  pont. 

largely,  will  be  more  particularly  described  among  the 
achievements  of  General  Quitman.  General  Worth 
was  soon  summoned  away  from  this  scene  of  his 
triumphs  to  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  where,  under  Gene 
ral  Scott,  he  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  and  was  present 
at  the  surrender.  He  was  made  commander  of  the  city 
of  Vera  Cruz,  but  was  not  long  employed  on  garrison 
duty.  Leaving  Colonel  Wilson  to  look  after  the  city,  he 
took  up  his  line  of  march  for  the  city  of  Mexico,  and 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  a  share  with  his  division 
in  the  brilliant  victory  of  Cerro  Gordo.  With  increased 
reputation  he  marched  onward  with  Scott  to  Churu- 
busco,  where  bis  brilliant  feat,  the  capture  of  the  tete  du 
pont,  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  day. 

For  an  account  of  the  taking  of  the  Molino  del  Rey  and 
Chapultepec,  we  have  drawn  largely  upon  the  official 
report  of  General  Worth  himself. 

"  On  a  reconnoissance  of  the  formidable  dispositions  of 
the  enemy,  near  and  around  the  castle  of  Chapultepec, 
they  were  found  to  exhibit  an  extended  line  of  cavalry 
and  infantry,  sustained  by  a  field  battery  of  four  guns — 
occupying  directly,  or  sustaining,  a  system  of  defenses 
collateral  to  the  castle  and  summit.  This  examination 
gave  fair  observation  of  the  configuration  of  the  grounds, 
and  the  extent  of  the  enemy's  lines,  but,  as  appeared 
in  the  sequel,  an  inadequte  idea  of  the  nature  of  his  de 
fenses — they  being  skilfully  masked. 

The  general-in-chief  ordered  that  General  Worth 
should  attack  and  carry  those  lines  and  defenses,  cap 
ture  the  enemy's  artillery,  destroy  the  machinery  and 
material  supposed  to  be  in  the  foundry,  (El  Molino  del 
E.ey;)  but  limiting  the  operations  to  that  extent.  After 


246  THE    WARRIORS. 

Reconnoissan.ee  of  tlie  enemy's  positions. 

which  his  command  was  to  be  immediately  withdrawn 
to  its  position  in  the  village  of  Tucubaya. 

A  close  and  daring  reconnoissance,  by  Captain  Mason, 
of  the  engineers,  made  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  repre 
sented  the  enemy's  lines  collateral  to  Chapultepec,  to 
be  as  follows:  His  left  rested  upon  and  occupied  a 
group  of  strong  stone  buildings,  called  El  Molino  del 
Rey,  adjoining  the  grove  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  Cha 
pultepec,  and  directly  under  the  guns  of  the  castle  which 
crowns  the  summit.  The  right  of  his  line  rested  upon 
another  stone  building,  called  Casa  Mata,  situated  at  the 
foot  of  the  ridge  that  slopes  gradually  from  the  heights 
above  the  village  of  Tacubaya  to  the  plain  below.  Mid 
way  between  these  buildings  was  the  enemy's  field  bat 
tery,  and  his  infantry  forces  were  disposed  on  either 
side  to  support  it.  This  reconnoissance  was  verified 
by  Captain  Mason  and  Colonel  Duncan,  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  same  day.  The  result  indicated  that  the 
centre  was  the  weak  point  of  the  enemy's  position  ;  and 
that  his  flanks  were  the  strong  points,  his  left  flank  being 
the  stronger. 

Having  made  the  necessary  directions,  at  three  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  several  columns  were 
put  in  motion,  on  as  many  different  routes ;  and,  when 
the  gray  of  the  morning  enabled  them  to  be  seen,  they 
were  as  accurately  in  position  as  if  posted  in  midday 
for  review.  The  early  dawn  was  the  moment  appointed 
for  the  attack,  which  was  announced  to  our  troop-s  by 
the  opening  of  Huger's  guns  on  El  Molino  del  Rey> 
upon  which  they  continued  to  play  actively  until  this 
point  of  the  enemy's  line  became  sensibly  shaken,  when 
the  assaulting  party,  commanded  by  Captain  Wright7 


WILLIAM   J.    WORTH.  249 

Assualt  on  Molino  del  Eej. 

and  guided  by  that  accomplished  officer,  Captain  Mason, 
of  the  engineers,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Foster,  dashed 
gallantly  forward  to  the  assault.  Unshaken  by  the  galling 
fire  of  musketry  and  canister  that  was  showered  upon 
them,  on  they  rushed,  driving  infantry  and  artillerymen 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  enemy's  field  battery 
was  taken,  and  his  own  guns  were  trailed  upon  his  re 
treating  masses ;  before,  however,  they  could  be  dis 
charged,  perceiving  that  he  had  been  dispossessed  of 
this  strong  position  by  comparatively  a  handful  of  men, 
he  made  a  desperate  effort  to  regain  it.  Accordingly 
his  retiring  forces  rallied  and  formed  with  this  object. 
Aided  by  the  infantry,  which  covered  the  house-tops, 
(within  reach  of  which  the  battery  had  been  moved 
during  the  night,)  the  enemy's  whole  line  opened  upon 
the  assaulting  party  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry  which 
struck  down  eleven  out  of  the  fourteen  officers  that  com 
posed  the  command,  and  non-commissioned  officers  and 
men  in  proportion.  This  severe  shock  staggered,  for  a 
moment,  that  gallant  band.  The  light  battalion,  held 
to  cover  Huger's  battery,  under  Captain  E  Kirby  Smith, 
(Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  being  sick,)  and  the  right 
wing  of  Cadwalader's  brigade,  were  promptly  ordered 
forward  to  support,  which  order  was  executed  in  the 
most  gallant  style  ;  the  enemy  was  again  routed,  and 
this  point  of  his  line  carried,  and  fully  possessed  by  our 
troops.  In  the  mean  time  Garland's  (1st)  brigade,  ablj 
sustained  by  Captain  Drum's  artillery,  assaulted  the 
enemy's  left,  and,  after  an  obstinate  and  very  severe 
contest,  drove  him  from  this  apparently  impregnable 
position,  immediately  under  the  guns  of  the  castle 
of  Chapultepec.  Drum's  section,  and  the  battering 

11* 


250  THE    WARRIORS. 

Assault  on  Casa  Mata. 

guns  under  Captain  Huger,  advanced  to  the  enemy's 
position,  and  the  captured  guns  of  the  enemy  were  now 
opened  on  his  retreating  forces,  on  which  they  continued 
to  fire  until  beyond  their  reach.  While  this  work  was 
in  progress  of  accomplishment,  by  our  centre  and  right, 
our  troops  on  the  left  were  not  idle.  Duncan's  battery 
opened  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's  line,  up  to  this  time 
engaged  ;  and  the  2d  brigade,  under  Colonel  Mclritosh, 
was  now  ordered  to  assault  the  extreme  right  of  the 
enemy's  line.  The  direction  of  this  brigade  soon  caused 
it  to  mask  Duncan's  battery — the  fire  of  which,  for  the 
moment,  was  discontinued — and  the  brigade  moved 
steadily  on  to  the  assault  of  Casa  Mata,  which,  instead 
of  an  ordinary  field  iutrenchment,  as  was  supposed, 
proved  to  be  a  strong  stone  citadel,  surrounded  with 
bastioned  intrenchments  and  impassable  ditches — an 
old  Spanish  work,  recently  repaired  and  enlarged. 
When  within  easy  musket  range,  the  enemy  opened  a 
most  deadly  fire  upon  our  advancing  troops,  which  was 
kept  up,  without  intermission,  until  our  gallant  men 
reached  the  very  slope  of  the  parapet  of  the  work  that 
surrounded  the  citadel.  By  this  time,  a  large  propor 
tion  of  the  command  was  either  killed  or  wounded, 
amongst  whom  were  the  three  senior  officers  present — 
Brevet-Colonel  Mclntosh,  Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel 
Scott,  of  the  5th  infantry,  and  Major  Waite,  8th  infantry ; 
the  second  killed,  and  the  first  and  last  desperately 
wounded.  Still  the  fire  from  the  citadel  was  unabated. 
In  this  crisis  of  the  attack,  the  command  was,  momen 
tarily,  thrown  into  disorder,  and  fell  back  on  the  left 
of  Duncan's  battery,  where  they  rallied.  As  the  2d 
brigade  moved  to  the  assault,  a  very  large  cavalry  and 


WILLIAM    J.    WORTH.  251 

Thy  Casa  Mata  blown  up. 

infantry  force  was  discovered  approaching  rapidly  upon 
our  left  flank,  to  reinforce  the  enemy's  right.  As  soon 
as  Duncan's  battery  was  masked,  as  before  mentioned, 
supported  by  Andrews's  voltigeurs,  of  Cadwalader's 
brigade,  it  moved  promptly  to  the  extreme  left  of  our 
line,  to  check  the  threatened  assault  on  this  point.  The 
enemy's  cavalry  came  rapidly  within  canister  range, 
when  the  whole  battery  opened  a  most  effective  fire, 
which  soon  broke  the  squadrons,  and  drove  them  back 
in  disorder.  During  this  fire  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
Major  Sumner's  command  moved  to  the  front,  and 
changed  direction  in  admirable  order,  under  a  most 
appalling  fire  from  the  Casa  Mata.  This  movement 
enabled  his  command  to  cross  the  ravine  immediately  on 
the  left  of  Duncan's  battery,  where  it  remained,  doing 
noble  service  until  the  close  of  the  action.  At  the  very 
moment  the  cavalry  were  driven  beyond  reach,  our  own 
troops  drew  back  from  before  the  Casa  Mata,  and  ena 
bled  the  guns  of  Duncan's  battery  to  reopen  upon  this 
position  ;  which,  after  a  short  and  well-directed  fire,  the 
enemy  abandoned.  The  guns  of  the  battery  were  now 
turned  upon  his  retreating  columns,  and  continued  to 
play  upon  them  until  beyond  reach. 

He  was  now  driven  from  every  point  of  the  field,  and 
his  strong  lines,  which  had  certainly  been  defended  well, 
were  in  our  possession.  In  fulfilment  of  the  instructions 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  the  Casa  Mata  was  blown 
up,  and  such  of  the  captured  ammunition  as  was  useless 
to  us,  as  well  as  the  cannon  moulds  found  in  El  Molino 
del  Rey,  were  destroyed.  After  which  my  command, 
under  the  reiterated  orders  of  the  general-in-chief,  re 
turned  to  quarters  at  Tacubaya,  with  three  of  the  enemy's 


252  THE   WARRIORS. 

Mexican  loss  in  killed,  -wounded,  and  prisoners. 

four  guns,  (the  fourth,  having  been  spiked,  was  rendered 
unserviceable ;)  as  also  a  large  quantity  of  small  arms, 
with  gun  and  musket  ammunition,  and  exceeding  eight 
hundred  prisoners,  including  fifty-two  commissioned 
officers. 

By  concurrent  testimony  of  prisoners  the  enemy's 
force  exceeded  fourteen  thousand  men  commanded  by 
General  Santa  Anna  in  person.  His  total  loss  killed, 
(including  the  second  and  third  in  command,  Generals 
Valdarez  and  Leon,)  wounded  and  prisoners,  amounts 
to  three  thousand,  exclusive  of  some  two  thousand  who 
deserted  after  the  rout. 

My  command,  reinforced  as  before  stated,  only  reached 
three  thousand  one  hundred  men  of  all  arms.  The  con 
test  continued  two  hours,  and  its  severity  is  painfully 
attested  by  our  heavy  loss  of  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers,  and  privates,  including  in  the  first  two  classes 
some  of  the  brightest  ornaments  in  the  service. 

It  will  be  seen  that  subordinate  commanders  speak  in 
the  warmest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  their  officers  and 
men,  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  add  my  cordial  testimony. 
There  can  be  no  higher  exhibition  of  courage,  constancy, 
and  devotion  to  duty  and  to  country. 

These  operations  occurring  under  the  observation  of 
the  general-in-chief,  gives  assurance  that  justice  will  be 
done  to  the  noble  officers  and  soldiers  whose  valour 
achieved  this  glorious  but  dear-bought  victory.  Com 
mending  the  gallant  dead,  the  wounded,  and  the  few 
unscathed  to  the  respectful  memory  of  their  countrymen, 
and  the  rewards  due  to  valour  and  conduct,  I  present 
the  names  of  those  especially  noticed  by  the  subordinate 


WILLIAM    J.     WORTH.  253 

His  achievements  at  Monterey. 

« 

commanders,  uniting  in  all  they  have  said,  and  extend 
ing  the  same  testimony  to  those  not  named." 

The  history  of  the  terrible  conflict  at  Chapultepec, 
where  none  but  the  invincible  were  fit  to  fight,  we  have 
already  given  in  the  words  of  General  Scott.  The  gen 
eral's  whole  account  is  a  tribute  to  the  skill  and  bravery 
of  General  Worth. 

We  cannot  better  close  this  sketch  of  General  Worth's 
achievements,  than  by  the  following  extract  from  the 
eloquent  work  of  Samuel  C.  Reid,  Esq.,  "  Scouting 
Expeditions  with  McCulloch's  Texas  Rangers."  Speak 
ing  of  General  Worth  and  his  position  at  Monterey,  after 
the  cavalry  fight  on  the  21st,  by  which  the  gorge  of  the 
Saltillo  road  was  taken,  he  says,  "the  position  General 
\Vorth  then  occupied  might  have  been  considered  as 
critical  as  it  was  dangerous.  Separated  from  the  main 
body  of  the  army — his  communication  cut  off,  and  no 
possible  route  less  than  eight  miles  to  regain  it — with 
but  scanty  supplies  of  provision  for  only  four  days — 
surrounded  by  gorges  and  passes  of  the  mountains  from 
whose  summits  belched  forth  the  destructive  shot,  shell, 
and  grape  ;  he  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  attacked 
by  an  overwhelming  force  in  the  direction  of  Saltillo, 
which  had  been  reported  to  be  daily  expected,  and 
which  would  have  placed  his  command  in  the  very  jaws 
of  the  enemy.  For  although  holding  the  passes  and 
gorges  of  the  Saltillo  road,  yet  a  superior  force  from  the 
advance  would  certainly  have  forced  him  back  to,  and 
have  turned  upon  him,  the  very  passes  which  he  then 
held.  It  was  feared,  too,  from  his  impetuous  nature  that 
he  would  rush  his  command  into  unnecessary  danger  by 
some  rash  and  desperate  attempt.  But  it  was  not  so. 


254  THE    WARRIORS. 

His  achievements  at  Monterey. 

He  was  collected,  calm,  and  cool,  and  bore  himself  with 
that  proud,  resolute  and  commanding  mien,  giving  his 
orders  with  promptness  and  decision  which  inspired  men 
and  officer  alike  with  confidence.  He  never  appeared 
better  than  on  that  day ;  and  all  felt  that  with  WORTH 
they  were  sure  of  victory." 


GENERAL  JOHN  E.  WOOL. 

OHN  E.  WOOL  was  born  in  Orange  county, 
New  York,  and  resided  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war  of  1812  at  Troy,  New 
York,  where  he  assisted  in  organizing  a 
volunteer  corps.  He  was,  soon  after,  appointed  to  a 
captaincy  in  the  13th  infantry.  At  the  battle  of  Queens- 
town  he  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  The  destruction  of 
the  American  officers  by  the  terrible  fire  of  the  enemy, 
caused  the  duty  of  charging  their  battery  to  devolve 
upon  Captain  Wool,  and  it  could  not  have  been  com 
mitted  to  better  hands.  Rallied  by  General  Brock, 
the  defeated  British  advanced  to  retake  the  battery,  but 
Captain  Wool  tearing  down  with  his  own  hands  a  white 
flag  raised  by  one  of  his  men,  charged  them  a  second 

(255) 


256  THE    WARRIORS. 

Battle  of  Plattabuxg. 

time,  and  defeated  them  again,  with  the  loss  of  their 
brave  commander,  General  Brock.  His  gallantry  won 
for  him  the  rank  of  Major,  conferred  during  the  cam 
paign  of  1813.  In  this  capacity  he  participated  in  the 
battle  of 'Plattsburg,  the  official  account  of  which,  given 
by  General  Macomb,  contains  the  following. 

"  The  column  on  the  Beekmantown  road  proceeded 
most  rapidly ;  the  militia  skirmished  with  his  advanced 
parties,  and,  except  a  few  brave  men,  fell  back  most 
precipitately  in  the  greatest  disorder,  notwithstanding 
the  British  troops  did  not  deign  to  fire  on  them,  except 
by  their  flankers  and  advanced  patroles.  The  night 
previous  I  ordered  Major  Wool  to  advance  with  a  de 
tachment  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  support  the 
militia,  and  set  them  an  example  of  firmness.  Also 
Captain  Leonard,  of  the  light  artillery,  was  directed  to 
proceed  with  two  pieces  to  be  on  the  ground  before  day, 
yet  he  did  not  make  his  appearance  until  eight  o'cLock, 
when  the  enemy  had  approached  within  two  miles  of 
the  village.  With  his  conduct,  therefore,  I  am  not  well 
pleased.  Major  Wool,  with  his  party,  disputed  the  road 
with  great  obstinacy,  but  the  militia  could  not  be  pre 
vailed  upon  to  stand,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of 
their  general  and  staff  officers;  although  the  fields  were 
divided  by  strong  stone  walls,  and  they  were  told  that 
the  enemy  could  not  possibly  cut  them  off.  The  state 
dragoons  of  New  York  wear  red  coats,  and  they  being 
on  the  heights  to  watch  the  enemy,  gave  constant  alarm 
to  the  militia,  who  mistook  them  for  the  enemy,  and 
feared  his  getting  in  their  rear.  Finding  the  enemy's 
columns  had  penetrated  within  a  mile  of  Plattsburg,  I 
despatched  my  aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant  Root,  to  bring 


JOHN     E.    WOOL  257 

Battle  of  Plattsburg. 

off  the  detachment  at  Dead  Creek,  and  to  inform  Lieu 
tenant  Appling  that  I  wished  him  to  fall  on  the  enemy's 
right  flank.  The  colonel  fortunately  arrived  just  in  time 
to  save  his  retreat,  and  to  fall  in  with  the  head  of  a 
column  debouching  from  the  woods.  Here  he  poured 
in  a  destructive  fire  from  his  riflemen  at  rest,  and  con 
tinued  to  annoy  the  column  until  he  formed  a  junction 
with  Major  Wool.  The  field-pieces  did  considerable 
execution  among  the  enemy's  columns.  So  undaunted, 
however,  was  the  enemy,  that  he  never  deployed  in  his 
whole  march,  always  pressing  on  in  column.  Findhig 
that  every  road  was  full  of  troops  crowding  on  us  on  all 
sides,  I  ordered  the  field-pieces  to  retire  across  the 
bridge  and  form  a  battery  for  its  protection,  and  to  cover 
the  retreat  of  the  imantry,  which  was  accordingly  done, 
and  the  parties  of  Appling  and  Wool,  as  well  as  that  of 
Sproul,  retired  alternately,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  until 
they  got  under  cover  of  the  works.  The  enemy's  Kght 
troops  occupied  the  houses  near  the  bridge,  and  kept 
up  a  constant  firing  from  the  windows  and  balconies, 
and  annoyed  us  much.  I  ordered  them  to  be  driven 
out  with  hot  shot,  which  soon  put  the  houses  in  flames, 
and  obliged  these  sharp-shooters  to  retire.  The  whole 
day,  until  it  was  too  late  to  see,  the  enemy's  light  troops 
endeavoured  to  drive  our  guards  from  the  bridge,  but 
they  suffered  dearly  for  their  perseverance.  An  attempt 
was  also  made  to  cross  the  upper  bridge,  where  the 
militia  handsomely  drove  them  back." 

The  conclusion  of  the  official  despatch  contains  a 
handsome  notice  of  the  most  distinguished  officers,  Ap 
pling,  Wool,  Totten,  and  others.  President  Madison 
conferred  on  Major  Wool  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 


258  THE     WARRIORS. 

Marches  to  Monclova. 

by  brevet;  the  letter  by  which  he  was  apprized  of  the 
honour  stating  in  complimentary  terms  that  it  was  for 
his  bravery  at  Plattsburg.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
served  in  various  capacities,  gradually  rising  in  his  pro 
fession,  until  June,  1841,  when  he  received  his  commis 
sion  as  brigadier-general.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
Mexican  war,  it  was  determined  to  direct  an  expedition 
against  the  provinces  of  Mexico,  and  General  Wool  was 
selected  to  command  it.  The  mass  of  this  army  was 
composed  of  volunteers,  mostly  commanded  by  regular 
officers. 

He  led  his  command  over  a  long  and  toilsome  march 
to  the  city  of  Monclova,  where  the  governor  came  out 
to  meet  him  as  a  friend,  and  surrendered  the  city  with 
out  a  word.  Reports  of  the  movement  made  upon 
Chihuahua  by  Colonel  Doniphan  under  the  orders  of 
General  Kearny,  determined  General  Wool  not  to  ad 
vance  against  that  city,  and  he  soon  after  received 
orders  from  General  Taylor  to  capture  the  city  of  Parras. 
He  arrived  there  on  the  6th  of  December,  1846,  where 
the  people  became  so  much  attached  to  him  that  when 
he  left  the  city  to  march  to  Saltillo,  the  ladies  besought 
him  to  commit  his  sick  to  their  care.  He  did  so,  and 
they  proved  their  sincerity  by  the  most  anxious  and  ten- 
der  nursing.  His  movements  after  joining  Genera] 
Taylor  have  already  been  recorded.  At  Buena  Vista, 
the  details  of  the  battle  were  committed  to  him  by 
General  Taylor,  and  the  whole  account  of  the  victory 
shows  Lv/vv  fully  he  justified  the  confidence  of  his  com 
mander. 


GENERAL  DAVID  E.  TWIGGS. 

AVID  E.  TWIGGS  was  born  in  Richmond 
county,  Georgia,  in  1790,  and  bred  to 
the  bar,  but  the  war  of  1812  brought 
about  a  change  in  his  profession. 
He  obtained  a  captain's  commission, 
conducted  himself  every  where  well, 
and  was  rewarded  for  his  gallantry  by  being  raised  to 
the  rank  of  major  by  brevet.  He  served  with  dis 
tinction  under  General  Jackson  in  the  Indian  cam 
paigns,  and  under  Generals  Gaines  and  Scott,  in  Flo 
rida.  Under  Scott  he  held  the  rank  of  colonel  of 
the  2d  regiment  of  dragoons.  His  regiment  was  at 
tached  to  the  "  Army  of  Occupation,"  and  he  has  borne 
a  part  with  the  utmost  honour  to  himself  in  every 

(259) 


260 


THE    WARRIORS. 


His  discipline  anl  goodness  of  heart. 

great  battle,  save  that  of  Buena  Vista.  He  commanded 
the  right  wing  of  the  army  in  the  battles  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  contributed  greatly  to  the  capture  of  Mon 
terey.  He  was  complimented  by  General  Taylor  for 
his  bravery  and  valuable  services.  He  has  participated 
in  all  the  glorious  triumphs  on  the  road  to  Mexico, 
winning  honour  at  every  step.  He  is  still  at  the  head 
of  his  division,  and  in  case  of  an  opportunity  will  give 
a  good  account  of  it. 

Like  his  fellow-soldier  Wool,  he  is  one  of  the  most 
rigid  disciplinarians  in  the  army.  An  instance  of  that 
perfection  of  discipline  to  which  he  had  brought  his 
men,  as  well  as  of  his  goodness  of  heart  may  be  seen 
from  the  following : — On  the  road  from  Palo  Alto,  when 
the  army  was  advancing  to  meet  the  enemy  a  second 
time,  a  wounded  Mexican  was  seen  lying  in  the  long 
grass  beside  the  road.  He  raised  himself  up,  and 
showed  by  signs  that  he  was  dying  for  water.  The 
sight  impressed  all  who  witnessed  it,  and  all  desired  to 
rush  to  his  relief,  but  such  a  breach  of  discipline  they 
dared  not  commit  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Twiggs. 
At  length  the  eye  of  the  colonel  fell  upon  the  sufferer. 
His  discipline  was  forgotten.  "Men,  the  poor  fellow 
wants  water!"  he  exclaimed,  and  in  an  instant  a  dozen 
canteens  were  flung  at  his  feet.  Twiggs  then  directed 
them  to  give  him  food,  and  he  ate  and  died,  surrounded 
by  marks  of  the  generosity  and  kindness  of  the  American 
colonel  and  his  men.  After  the  taking  of  Matamoras, 
Colonel  Twiggs  was  appointed  governor  of  the  town, 
and  to  his  especial  care  was  intrusted  the  taking  pos 
session  of  the  military  stores  left  by  the  Mexican  army. 
Don  Jesus  Cardenas,  the  prefect  of  Matamoras  at  the 


DAVID    E.    1WIGGS.  261 

Takes  possession  of  military  stores. 

time  General  Taylor  took  possession,  was  distinguished 
among  his  fellow-citizens  for  his  oppression,  and  for  his 
hatred  to  foreigners.  In  surrendering  the  city,  the  pre 
fect's  only  care  was  to  know  if  he  could  retain*  his 
office.  He  never  stipulated  for  any  privileges  for  the 
citizens,  or  seemed  in  any  way  to  think  of  their  interests. 
Immediately  on  Colonel  Twiggs  taking  command,  he 
sent  for  this  notable  Cardenas,  and  asked  him  for  an 
inventory  of  the  public  property.  He  stated,  positively, 
that  he  knew  of  none,  and  persisted  in  declaring  that 
none  was  left  by  the  Mexican  forces  when  they  evacuated 
the  city.  Colonel  Twiggs  dismissed  him,  and  entering 
the  city  with  information  obtained  from  other  quarters, 
soon  began  to  find  vast  quantities  of  military  stores,  in 
almost  all  the  out-of-the-way  places  about  the  plaza. 

This  outrageous  trifling  on  the  part  of  the  prefect 
Colonel  Twiggs  was  determined  to  notice.  Accordingly 
he  waited  upon  him  the  following  morning  at  his  office, 
to  give  the  gentleman  what  is  denominated  a  t{  plain 
talk."  The  colonel  laboured  under  one  difficulty — 
eloquent  himself,  it  was  a  great  drawback  to  have  it 
marred  by  an  indifferent  translator.  Fortunately,  an 
American  citizen  by  the  name  of  Dugden,  a  v=  j  intel 
ligent  gentleman  of  Matamoras.  '^u  an  object  of  the 
prefect's  special  oppression,  offered  his  sen-ices  as  an 
interpreter.  "  I  wish  to  give  this  falsifying  prefect  a 
proper  notion  of  his  conduct,"  said  the  colonel,  with 
a  variety  of  expletives.  "  Can  you,  Mr.  Dugden,  do 
justice  to  what  I  say?"  Mr.  Dugden  assented,  and  the 
governor  laid  down  the  first  paragraph  of  his  lecture  in 
English.  Dugden  did  justice  to  what  was  said,  and, 


262  THE     WARRIORS. 

Crosses  the  Sierra  Madre. 

it  was  thought,  added  a  little  on  his  own  responsibility, 
much  to  the  gratification  of  the  governor. 

The  prefect,  bearded  in  his  own  den,  began  to  turn 
a  variety  of  colours :  his  consternation  increased  as  the 
citizens  of  the  town  crowded  into  his  office,  and,  by  the 
wildest  expressions  of  delight,  testified  their  pleasure  at 
what  was  going  on.  The  prefect  literally  trembled  in 
his  shoes,  and  promised  to  act  better,  and  honestly  point 
out  the  hidden  treasures.  But  he  prevaricated  so  con 
stantly,  that  he  was  finally  dismissed,  and  ejected  from 
the  shadow  of  the  office  he  still  held,  and  he  left  the 
city,  it  was  supposed,  to  join  Arista  or  some  other  gene 
ral  in  the  interior.* 

Captain  Henry,  in  his  Campaign  Sketches,  gives  an 
amusing  account  of  the  manner  in  which  General  Twiggs 
crossed  the  Sierra  Madre,  on  his  expedition  against 
Victoria,  December  16th,  1846.  We  make  an  extract 
from  his  narrative.  He  says,  "  We  passed  over  a  lovely 
country ;  it  was  a  succession  of  stony  ridges,  and  basins 
of  the  richest  kind  of  soil.  We  marched  along  rapidly, 
and  before  noon  had  passed  over  twelve  miles,  when  we 
reached  a  hill  which  forbade  any  chance  of  our  wagons 
ascending  without  the  assistance  of  the  men.  I  chris 
tened  it  Disappointment  Hill ;  for  we  were  very  anxious 
to  reach  Montemorelos,  and  we  saw  our  march  delayed 
for  some  time,  within  sight  of  the  place.  We  ascended, 
stacked  arms,  and  marched  down  again  to  assist  the 
teams.  The  artillery  got  along  admirably  by  hitching 
twelve  horses  to  a  piece ;  but  when  tLe  mule  teams 
came,  it  was  entirely  another  thing.  The  ascent  must 

*  Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande. 


DAVID     E.     TWIGGS.  263 


Crossing  the  Sierra  Madre. 


have  been  at  least  forty-five  degrees ;  certainly  one  of 
the  steepest  hills  I  ever  saw  wagons  ascend. 

General  Twiggs  assumed  the  management  of  the 
passage  in  person.  Those  who  know  the  general  can 
not  but  recollect  his  peculiarities  and  his  faculty  of  get 
ting  more  work  out  of  men  in  a  given  time  than  any 
other  officer  in  the  army.  A  quartermaster  stood  no 
chance  ;  his  stentorian  lungs  drowned  every  one's  voice 
and  his  tone  of  command  did  not  admit  tf  any  question 
*  Bring  on  that  team,  there !'  Along  comes  the  team 
with  a  company  of  men  hold  of  its  wheels,  and  every 
available  point.  Quartermaster — '  Drive  slowly,  a  little 
way  at  a  time,  and  let  your  mules  blow.'  Team  com 
mences  the  ascent;  all  steam  is  cracked  on  and  the 
quartermaster  cries  'stop.'  'Stop!  the  devil!'  cries 
the  general,  '  who  ever  heard  of  such  a  thing  ?  Crack 
ahead !  speak  to  your  mules,  sir,  and  keep  them  going 
as  long  as  they  will.'  And  away  goes  the  team  amid 
cracking  of  whips  and  cheering  of  men.  The  men 
would  file  on  about  six  feet  deep  behind,  pushing  each 
other  along.  '  General,  those  men  are  certainly  doing 
no  good.'  'You  are  -mistaken,  sir;  they  are  keeping 
the  man  next  the  wagon  from  holding  on  going  up  hill.' 
The  last  to  cross  was  the  quartermaster's  forge.  '  Well, ' 
exclaimed  the  general,  '  do  you  think  you  can  get  up, 
lasty,  asty,  without  any  men  ?'  '0  yes,  general.'  '  Well; 
on  with  you.'  By  the  time  '  lasty'  had  ascended  twenty 
feet,  the  mules  commenced  backing.  '  Great  God ! 
teamster,  which  way  are  you  going?  That's  not  the 
way  up  the  hill.'  And  amid  peals  of  laughter,  a  com 
pany  went  to  the  assistance  of  '  lasty.'  With  any  num- 


264  THE     WARRIORS. 

His  family. 

ber  of  jokes,  the  general  succeeded  in  crossing  the  train 
in  an  hour  and  a  half." 

In  the  estimation  of  General  Scott,  General  Twiggs 
evidently  holds  a  very  exalted  position.  The  tributes 
paid  to  his  valour  and  conduct  in  the  despatches  of  the 
general-in-chief,  are  of  the  most  warm  and  decisive,  as 
well  as  respectful  character. 

General  Twiggs's  family  has  long  been  famous  in  the 
military  history  of  the  country.  His  father,  General 
John  Twiggs,  rendered  services  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  of  such  importance  as  to  gain  him  the  title  of 
"Saviour  of  Georgia."  His  brother,  Major  Twiggs, 
and  his  nephew,  Lieutenant  Twiggs,  son  of  the  major, 
both  fell  in  the  recent  operations  before  the  city  of 
Mexico. 


GENERAL  JOHN   A.  QUITMAN. 

o  officer  has  deserved  a  higher 
character  for  all  the  qualities 
which  constitute  a  good  soldier 
than  General  Quitman.  He 
has  carved  his  name  in  bold 
characters  upon  the  military  re 
cords  of  our  country ;  connected 
it  indissolubly  with  the  victories 
of  Monterey,  Cerro  Gordo,  and  the  battles  of  Mexico. 
At  Monterey  he  was  particularly  distinguished,  and  there 
and  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  his  bravery  in  penetrating  the 
town  contributed  greatly  to  secure  and  hasten  victory. 
The  following  description  of  the  taking  of  Fort  Teneria 
at  Monterey  by  his  command,  will  give  an  idea  of  the 
nature  of  the  services  he  is  called  on  to  perform,  ser 
vices  only  asked  of  those  who  know  not  how  to  fail. 
12 


266  THE    WARRIORS. 

Taking  of  Fort  Teneria. 

"  The  battle  now  became  furious — the  incessant  roar 
of  cannon,  and  the  rattling  of  musketry,  told  how 
desperate  was  the  conflict.  The  cross  fire  was  indeed 
terrible.  On  marched  Quitman's  brigade,  led  by  four 
companies  of  the  4th  infantry,  about  four  hundred  yards 
in  the  advance,  breasting  the  dreadful  storm  which  made 
them  stagger,  and  at  once  struck  down  one-third  of  the 
officers  and  men,  rendering  it  necessary  for  the  remainder 
to  retire  and  effect  a  junction  with  the  two  other  com 
panies  then  advancing.  Lieutenant  Hoskins,  the  adju 
tant,  and  Lieutenant  J.  S.  Woods,  of  the  2d,  but  serving 
with  the  4th,  were  killed ;  and  Lieutenant  II.  H.  Graham 
fell  mortally  wounded.  Thus  the  3d  and  4th  both  lost 
their  adjutants,  who  were  two  of  the  most  noble  and 
accomplished  officers  in  the  army.  The  Mississippians 
and  Tennesseeans  steadily  advanced,  braving  the  galling 
fire  of  copper  grape,  which  swept  through  their  ranks, 
until  the  centre  of  the  Mississippi  rifle  regiment  rested 
about  three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  fort,  with  the 
Tennessee  regiment  formed  on  the  left.  It  was  the 
crisis,  and  the  storm  of  battle  was  now  at  its  height. 
The  order  was  given  to  "advance  and  fire."  For  thirty 
minutes  their  fire  was  kept  up,  while  the  men  continued 
to  push  forward.  The  long  lines  moved  until  within 
about  one  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  when  they  became 
lost  in  the  volume  of  smoke  that  enveloped  them.  The 
Mexicans  had  run  up  a  new  flag  in  exultation,  and  in  de 
fiance  of  the  assault,  which  was  now  being  made  in  front 
and  rear,  while  the  deafening  fire  of  their  artillery,  and 
the  rattling  of  musketry,  seemed  more  deadly  than  ever. 
The  brave  and  chivalric  Lieutenant-Colonel  McClung 
then  ordered  a  charge  ;  and  calling  on  the  "  Tom- 


JOHN     A.    QUITMAN.  267 

Taking  of  Fort  Teneria. 

bigbee  volunteers,"  a  company  he  formerly  commanded, 
and  the  "  Vicksburg  Southrons,"  of  Captain  Willis,  to 
follow  him,  he  rushed  forward  to  the  attack.  Colonel 
Davis  also  gave  the  order  to  ch  rge  nearly  at  the  same 
time,  or  shortly  after,  anticipating  General  Quitman,  who 
was  just  on  the  point  himself  of  issuing  the  same  order. 
With  desperation  the  lines  came  down  upon  the  fort, 
and  the  escalade  was  made  with  the  fury  of  a  tempest. 
Burning  for  revenge,  the  men  faced  the  terrible  fire,  and 
marched  up  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  enemy's  cannon, 
while  their  daring  recklessness  made  the  Mexicans  quail, 
and  fall  back  terror-stricken  from  their  guns.  Forward 
sprang  the  gallant  McClung  and  leaped  the  ditch ;  with 
sword  in  hand,  and  brandishing  it  over  his  head,  he 
mounted  the  ramparts  and  entered  the  fort,  while  the 
regiment  rushed  after  him,  cheered  on  by  the  gallant 
Colonel  Davis,  and  followed  by  the  brave  Tennesseeans 
of  the  noble  Campbell.  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Patterson, 
of  Captain  Rogers's  "  Tombigbee  volunteers,"  was  the 
second  man  in  the  fort,  to  whom  a  Mexican  officer  sur 
rendered  and  gave  up  his  sword,  and  but  an  instant 
passed  before  the  undaunted  Captain  D.  H.  Cooper  with 
his  high-souled  corps  of  "  Wilkinson  county  volunteers," 
and  the  whole  brigade  had  entered,  when  a  yell  and 
shout  of  triumph  rose  above  the  din  of  battle,  and  a  wild 
hurrah  rang  over  the  scene  of  strife,  which  sent  forth  the 
"harbinger  of  victory." 

The  Mexicans  fled  in  dismay,  and  ran  to  the  strong 
fortified  building,  called  the  distillery,  about  seventy- 
five  yards  in  the  rear,  whence  they  opened  a  heavy  fire 
of  musketry.  Without  pausing,  the  heroic  McClung, 
followed  by  the  brigade,  rushed  on  in  pursuit,  charged 


268  THE     WARRIORS. 

Taking  of  Fort  Tenena. 

and  entered  the  work,  which  immediately  surrendered. 
While  a  Mexican  officer  was  praying  for  quarters,  and 
calling  out  to  McClung  that  he  had  surrendered,  the 
gallant  colonel  received  two  severe  wounds,  being  shot 
through  the  hand  and  body,  and  was  caught  by  Lieu 
tenant  W.  P.  Townsend,  of  the  Mississippi  regiment, 
who  supported  him  from  falling.  As  the  men  rushed  in, 
they  beheld  McClung  and  the  Mexican  officer,  and 
thinking  that  the  latter  had  shot  him,  the  Mexican  was 
immediately  slain.  On  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Davis, 
who  reached  the  distillery  at  the  same  time  with 
McClung,  by  another  entrance,  he  received  the  sword 
of  another  Mexican  officer,  who  surrendered  his  com 
mand  to  him.  Five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  considerable 
quantity  of  ammunition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  including 
three  officers,  here  fell  into  our  hands ;  the  prisoners 
were  placed  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Armstrong.  The 
brigade  did  not  halt  here,  but  moving  on  with  rapidity, 
led  by  Colonel  Davis,  they  prepared  to  charge  the 
second  fort,  called  El  Diablo,  about  three  hundred  yards 
in  the  rear  of  the  last  work,  when  General  Quitman 
ordered  them  to  fall  back,  and  they  retired. 

Thus,  after  a  most  desperate  and  bloody  conflict,  of 
more  than  two  hours,  was  one  of  the  enemy's  strong 
works  carried  by  storm,  notwithstanding  the  obstinate 
resistance  they  maintained.  Considering  that  it  was  the 
first  time  that  the  troops  of  General  Butler's  division 
were  ever  brought  into  action — sustaining,  as  they  did, 
a  desperate  struggle  against  a  sheltered  and  inaccessible 
foe — unprotected  and  bared  to  the  storm  of  the  mur 
derous  artiLery  of  the  enemy,  which,  although  it  swept 
one-fifth  of  their  number  from  the  ranks,  caused  them 


JOHN     A.    QUITMAN.  269 

Quitman  at  the  gate  of  Belen. 

not  to  shrink  for  an  instant  from  a  steady  advance, 
proves  to  the  world  the  undaunted  gallantry  of  our 
citizen^  soldiers,  who  have  won  for  themselves  the  repu 
tation  of  veteran  troops — the  charge  led  by  the  Missis 
sippi  rifle  regiment  upon  Fort  Teneria,  without  bayonets, 
has  gained  for  the  state  a  triumph  which  stands  unparal 
leled. 

The  spirit  of  the  general  was  infused  into  the  hearts 
of  his  men,  and  so  devoted  were  they  to  their  duty,  that 
when  once  they  had  entered  upon  an  achievement  its 
accomplishment  was  certain.  One  of  his  men,  a  pri 
vate,  was  wounded  by  a  cannon  ball.  An  orderly 
passing  by  him  complied  with  his  request  for  water,  and 
asked  if  he  could  do  any  thing  more  for  him.  "Yes, 
my  friend,"  said  the  poor  fellow,  "you  can  take  my 
musket  back  to  the  3d.  I  am  a  dead  man,  but  I  would 
like  my  piece  to  go  back  to  my  old  regiment."  The 
musket  was  delivered,  and  the  soldier  died  contented. 

It  was  General  Quitman's  glory  to  enter  the  city  of 
Mexico  by  the  most  difficult  pass,  that  of  the  gate  of 
Belen,  and  to  raise  the  star-spangled  banner,  for  the  first 
time,  over  the  "Halls  of  the  Montezumas."  General 
Scott  says, 

"I  had  been,  from  the  first,  well  aware  that  the 
western,  or  San  Cosme,  was  the  less  difficult  route  to 
the  centre  and  conquest  of  the  capital ;  and,  therefore, 
intended  that  Quitman  should  only  manoeuver  and 
threaten  the  Belen  or  south-western  gate,  in  order  to 
favour  the  main*1  attack  by  Worth — knowing  that  the 
strong  defenses  at  the  Belen  were  directly  under  the 
guns  of  the  much  stronger  fortress,  called  the  citadel, 
just  within.  Both  of  these  defenses  of  the  enemy  were 


270  THE    WARRIORS. 

Quitman  at  the  gate  of  Belen. 

also  within  easy  supporting  distance  from  the  San  Angel 
(or  Nino  Perdido)  and  San  Antonio  gates.  Hence  the 
greatest  support,  in  numbers,  given  to  Worth's  move 
ment  as  the  main  attack. 

Those  views  I  repeatedly,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
communicated  to  Major-General  Quitman ;  but,  being 
in  hot  pursuit — gallant  himself,  and  supported  by  Briga 
dier-Generals  Shields  and  Smith — Shields  badly  wound 
ed  before  Chapultepec,  and  refusing  to  retire — as  well 
as  by  all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  column — Quitman 
continued  to  press  forward,  under  flank  and  direct  fires 
— carried  an  intermediate  battery  of  two  guns,  and  then 
the  gate,  before  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  but  not 
without  proportionate  loss,  increased  by  his  steady 
maintenance  of  that  position. 

Quitmam,  within  the  city— adding  several  new  de 
fenses  to  the  position  he  had  won,  and  sheltering  his 
corps  as  well  as  practicable — now  awaited  the  return  of 
daylight  under  the  guns  of  the  formidable  citadel,  yet 
to  be  subdued. 

In  the  night  the  Mexican  army  fled  from  the  city,  and 
I  communicated,  about  daylight,  orders  to  Worth  and 
Quitman  to  advance  slowly  and  cautiously,  (to  guard 
against  treachery,)  towards  the  heart  of  the  city,  and 
to  occupy  its  stronger  and  more  commanding  points. 
Quitman  proceeded  to  the  great  plaza,  or  square,  planted 
guards,  and  hoisted  the  colours  of  the  United  States  on 
the  national  palace — containing  the  halls  of  Congress 
and  executive  departments  of  federal  Mexico." 


GENERAL  PERSIFER  F.  SMITH. 

EXERAL  PERSIFER  F.  SMITH,  "  of  Louis 
iana,"  as  he  is  generally  designated, 
is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  one  of 
the  bravest  men  and  best  soldiers  in 
the  army.  He  served  in  command  of 
the  Louisiana  troops  in  the  Florida  war,  and  on 
the  formation  of  the  volunteer  division  was  ap 
pointed  colonel  of  the  rifles.  In  six  months  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- general  by 
brevet.  This  was  for  his  services  at  Monterey.  He 
led  the  right  wing  of  Worth's  division  at  the  entering 
of  that  city,  and  fought  his  way  through  one  street  while 
Worth  was  engaged  in  the  next  with  the  other  part  of 
his  division.  This  terrible  warfare  is  thus  described  by 
S.  C.  Reid,  Esq.,  in  his  work  on  the  Scouting  Expedi 
tions  of  McCulloch's  Texas  Rangers. 

*'  Every  street  was  barricaded  with  heavy  works  of 
masonry,  the  walls  being  some  three  or  four  feet  thick, 

(271) 


272  THE     WARRIOBS. 

Street  fight  in  Monterey. 

with  embrasures  for  one  or  more  guns  which  raked  the 
streets;  the  walls  of  gardens  and  sides  of  houses  were 
all  loop-holed  for  musketry ;  the  tops  of  the  houses  were 
covered  with  troops,  who  were  sheltered  behind  para 
pets,  some  four  feet  high,  upon  which  were  piled  sand 
bags  for  their  better  protection,  and  from  which  they 
showered  down  a  hurricane  of  balls. 

Between  three  and  four  o'clock,  from  the  cessation  of 
the  fire  in  the  opposite  direction,  it  was  evident  that  the 
enemy  had  become  disengaged,  which  enabled  them  to 
draw  off  men  and  guns  to  our  side,  as  their  fire  had  now 
become  almost  doubly  increased.  The  street-fight  be 
came  appalling — both  columns  were  now  closely  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  and  steadily  advanced  inch  by  inch — • 
our  artillery  was  heard  rumbling  over  the  paved  streets, 
galloping  here  and  there,  as  the  emergency  required, 
and  pouring  forth  a  blazing  fire  of  grape  and  ball — volley 
after  volley  of  musketry,  and  the  continued  peals  of  ar 
tillery  became  almost  deafening — the  artillery  of  both 
sides  raked  the  streets,  the  balls  striking  the  houses  with 
a  terrible  crash,  while  amid  the  roar  of  battle  were  heard 
the  battering  instruments  used  by  the  Texans.  Doors 
were  forced  open,  walls  were  battered  down — entrances 
made  through  the  longitudinal  walls,  and  the  enemy 
driven  from  room  to  room,  and  from  house  to  house, 
followed  by  the  shrieks  of  women,  and  the  sharp  crack 
of  the  Texan  rifles.  Cheer  after  cheer  was  heard  in 
proud!  and  exulting  defiance,  as  the  Texans  or  regulars 
gained  the  house-tops  by  means  of  ladders,  while  they 
poured  in  a  rain  of  bullets  upon  the  enemy  on  the  oppo 
site  houses.  It  was  indeed  a  most  strange  and  novel 
scene  of  warfare." 


PERSIFER    F.    SMITH.  275 

Battle  of  Contreras. 

In  history  General  Smith  will  be  best  known  as  the 
hero  of  Contreras.  An  article  in  the  New  York  Courier 
and  Inquirer,  giving  an  account  of  this  battle,  contains 
the  following  passages.  "  About  two  P.  M.,  as  we  had 
crawled  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  whither  we  had  been  our 
selves  pulling  Magruder's  battery  and  the  mountain 
howitzers,  we  suddenly  espied  Valencia  fortified  on  a  hill 
two  hundred  yards  off,  and  strongly  reinforced  by  a 
column  which  had  just  come  out  of  the  city.  We  lay 
down  close  to  avoid  drawing  their  fire,  while  the  bat 
tery  moved  past  at  a  full  gallop.  Just  then  General 
Smith's  manly  voice  rung  out,  '  Forward  the  rifles — to 
support  the  battery. '  On  they  went,  till  we  got  about 
eight  hundred  yards  from  the  work,  when  the  enemy 
opened  upon  them  with  his  long  guns,  which  were  after 
wards  found  to  be  sixteens  and  eight-inch  howitzers. 
The  ground  was  the  worst  possible  for  artillery,  covered 
with  rocks  large  and  small,  prickly  pears  and  cactus, 
intersected  by  ditches  filled  with  water  and  lined  with 
maguey  plant,  itself  imperviable  to  cavalry,  and  with 
patches  of  corn  which  concealed  the  enemy's  skirmishers, 
while  it  impeded  our  own  passage.  The  artillery  ad 
vanced  but  slowly,  under  a  most  tremendous  fire,  which 
greatly  injured  it  before  it  could  be  got  in  range,  and 
the  thickness  of  the  undergrowth  caused  the  skirmishers 
thrown  forward  to  lose  their  relative  position,  as  well  as 
the  column.  About  four  the  battery  got  in  position 
under  a  most  murderous  fire  of  grape,  canister,  and 
round  shot.  Hire  the  superiority  of  the  enemy's  pieces 
rendered  our  fire  nugatory.  We  could  get  but  three 
pieces  in  battery,  while  they  had  twenty-seven,  all  of 
them  three  times  the  calibre  of  ours.  For  two  hours 


276  THE    WARRIORS. 

Battle  of  Contreras. 

our  troops  stood  the  storm  of  iron  and  lead  they  hailed 
upon  them,  unmoved.  At  every  discharge  they  laid  flat 
down  to  avoid  the  storm,  and  then  sprang  up  to  serve  the 
guns.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  two  of  the  guns  were 
dismounted  and  we  badly  hurt ;  thirteen  of  the  h  orses 
were  killed  and  disabled,  and  fifteen  of  the  cannoneers 
killed  and  wounded.  The  regiment  was  then  recalled. 
The  lancers  had  been  repelled  in  three  successive 
charges.  The  3d  infantry  and  1st  artillery  had  also 
engaged  and  successfully  repelled  the  enemy's  skir 
mishers  without  loss  of  either  officers  or  men.  The 
greatest  loss  has  been  at  the  batteries.  Officers  looked 
gloomy  for  the  first  day's  fight,  but  the  brigade  was 
formed,  and  General  Smith  in  person  took  command. 
All  felt  revived,  and  followed  him  with  a  yell,  as  creep 
ing  low  to  avoid  the  grape,  which  was  coming  very  fast, 
we  made  a  circuit  in  rear  of  the  batteries,  and  passing 
off  to  the  right  we  were  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  chapar 
ral  and  cactus.  Passing  over  the  path  that  we  scrambled 
through,  behold  us,  at  almost  six  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
tired,  hungry,  and  sorrowful,  emerging  from  the  cha 
parral  and  crossing  the  road  between  it  and  Valencia. 
Here  we  found  Cadwalader  and  his  brigade  already 
formed,  and  discovered  Riley's  brigade  skirmishing  in 
rear  of  the  enemy's  works.  Valencia  was  ignorant  of 
our  approach,  and  we  were  as  yet  safe.  In  front  of  us 
was  Valencia  strongly  intrenched  on  a  hill-side  and  sur 
rounded  by  a  regular  field-work  concealed  from  us  by 
an  orchard  in  our  rear.  Mendoza  with  a  column  of  six 
thousand  was  in  the  road,  but  thinking  us  to  be  friends. 
On  our  right  was  a  large  range  of  hills,  whose  continued 
crest  was  parallel  to  the  road,  and  in  which  were  formed 


PERSIBER    F     SMITH.  277 

Battle  of  Contreiaa. 

in  line  of  battle  five  thousand  of  the  best  Mexican  cav 
alry.  On  our  left  we  were  separated  from  our  own  forces 
by  an  almost  impassable  wilderness,  and  it  was  now 
twilight.  Even  Smith  looked  round  for  help.  Suddenly 
a  thousand  vivas  came  across  the  hill-side,  like  the  yells 
of  prairie  wolves  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  the  squad 
rons  on  our  right  formed  for  charging.  Smith's  himself 
again!  'Face  to  the  rear!'  'Wait  till  you  see  their 
red  caps,  and  then  give  it  to  them!'  Furiously  they 
came  on  a  few  yards,  then  changed  their  minds,  and, 
disgusted  at  our  cool  reception,  retired  to  their  couches. 
****** 

At  last,  just  at  daylight,  General  Smith,  slowly  walk 
ing  up,  asked  if  all  was  ready.  A  look  answered  him. 
'Men,  forward.'  And  we  did  'forward.'  Springing  up  at 
once,  Riley's  brigade  opened,  when  the  crack  of  a  hun 
dred  rifles  started  the  Mexicans  from  their  astonishment, 
and  they  opened  their  fire.  Useless  fire,  for  we  were  so 
close  that  they  overshot  us,  and  before  they  could  turn 
their  pieces  on  us  we  were  on  them.  Then  such  cheers 
arose  as  you  never  heard.  The  men  rushed  forward 
like  demons,  yelling  and  firing  the  while.  The  carnage 
was  frightful,  and  though  they  fired  sharply  it  was  of  no 
use.  The  earthen  parapet  was  cleared  in  an  instant, 
and  the  blows  of  the  stocks  could  be  plainly  heard, 
mingled  with  the  yells  and  groans  around.  Just  before 
the  charge  was  made,  a  large  body  of  lancers  came 
winding  up  the  road,  looking  most  splendidly  in  their 
brilliant  uniforms.  They  never  got  to  the  work,  but 
turned  and  fled.  In  an  instant  all  was  one  mass  of 
confusion,  each  trying  to  be  foremost  in  the  flight.  The 
road  was  literally  blocked  up,  and  while  many  perished 


278  THE   WARRIORS. 


Battle  of  Contreras. 


by  their  own  guns,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  fire  on 
the  mass,  from  the  danger  of  killing  our  own  men. 
Some  fled  up  the  ravine  on  the  left,  or  on  the  right,  and 
many  of  these  were  slain  by  turning  their  own  guns  on 
them.  Toward  the  city  the  rifles  and  2d  infantry  led 
off  the  pursuit.  Seeing  that  a  large  crowd  of  the  fugi 
tives  were  jammed  up  in  a  pass  in  the  road,  some  of 
our  men  ran  through  the  corn-field,  and  by  thus  heading 
them  off  and  firing  down  upon  them,  about  thirty  men 
took  over  five  hundred  prisoners,  nearly  a  hundred  of 
them  officers. 

After  disarming  the  prisoners,  as  the  pursuit  had 
ceased,  we  went  back  to  the  fort,  where  we  found  our 
troops  in  full  possession,  and  the  rout  complete. 

Thus  ended  the  glorious  battle  of  Contreras,  in  which 
two  thousand  men,  under  General  P.  F.  Smith,  com 
pletely  routed  and  destroyed  an  army  of  eight  thousand 
men,  under  General  Valencia,  with  Santa  Anna  and  a 
force  of  twenty  thousand  men  within  five  miles.  Their 
army  was  so  completely  routed  that  not  fifteen  hundred 
men  rejoined  Santa  Anna,  and  participated  in  the  second 
battle. 


General  Kearny. 


GENERAL  STEPHEN  W.  KEARNY. 

TEPHEN  WATTS  KEARNY  was  born  at 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  educated 
at  Princeton  college,'where  he  was  a 
student  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  when 
the  war  of  1812  commenced.  Having 
determined  to  go  into  the  army,  he 
was  appointed  first  lieutenant  in  the 
13th  regiment  of  infantry,  and  at 
tached  to  the  company  of  the  then  Captain  John  E.  Wool. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  desperate  fight  of  Scott  at  Queens- 
towrr,  and  was  surrendered  a  prisoner  at  the  end  of  it. 
After  he  was  exchanged  he  served  with  honour  through 
the  war,  and  acquired  such  distinction  as  to  retain  his  rank 
as  captain  during  the  army  reductions  of  1815  and  1821. 
Afterwards  he  was  stationed  a<  Jefferson  Barracks,  near 

(281) 


282  THE   WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

St.  Louis.  While  there,  he  acquired  as  wide  spread  a 
reputation  for  his  tactics  and  severe  discipline,  as  he  had 
previously  borne  for  coolness  and  composure  under  all 
circumstances.  An  anecdote  related  by  Fayette  Robin 
son,  Esq.,  in  his  extremely  valuable  new  work  on  the 
Army  of  the  United  States,  illustrates  these  qualities  in 
the  best  manner.  It  is  as  follows  : — "  While  stationed 
at  Jefferson  Barracks,  General  Kearny  was  drilling  a 
brigade  on  one  of  the  open  fields  near  the  post.  The 
manceuver  was  the  simple  exercise  of  marching  in  line 
to  the  front.  An  admirable  horseman,  he  sat  with  his 
face  towards  the  troops,  while  the  horse  he  rode,  per 
fectly  trained,  was  backed  in  the  same  direction,  along 
which  the  command  was  marched.  At  once  the  animal 
fell,  fastening  the  rider  to  the  ground  by  his  whole 
weight.  His  brigade  had  been  drilled  to  such  a  state 
of  insensibility,  that  not  one  of  them  came  to  his  assist 
ance,  nor  was  it  necessary.  The  line  advanced  to  within 
about  ten  feet  of  .him,  when,  in  a  loud  distinct  voice, 
calmly  as  if  he  had  been  in  the  saddle  under  no  un 
usual  circumstance,  General  Kearny  gave  the  command, 
1  Fourth  company — obstacle — march.1  The  fourth  com 
pany  which  was  immediately  in  front  of  him  was  flanked 
by  its  captain  in  the  rear  of  the  other  half  of  the  grand 
division.  The  line  passed  on,  and  when  he  was  thus 
left  in  rear  of  his  men,  he  gave  the  command,  'Fourth 
company  into  line — march.'  He  was  not  seriously  injured, 
extricated  himself  from  his  horse,  mounted  again,  passed 
to  the  front  of  the  regiment,  and  executed  the  next 
manceuver  in  the  series  he  had  marked  out  for  the  day's 
drill." 

He  was   soon   afterwards   (1833)   made   lieutenant- 


STEPHEN     W.    KEARNY.  283 

Wounded  at  San  Pasqual. 

colonel  of  dragoons,  and  had  to  perform  the  onerous 
duty  of  forming  a  new  arm  of  the  service.  The  efficiency 
of  his  training  is  exhibited  in  the  bearing  of  the  dra 
goon  regiments  and  the  mounted  rifles  in  the  Mexican 
war.  General  Gaines  has  said  that  the  first  dragoons 
drilled  by  General  Kearny  were  the  best  troops  he  ever 
saw.  He  served  many  years  in  the  north-west,  con 
tinually  acquiring  valuable  information  for  the  govern 
ment  by  his  expeditions,  which  at  the  same  time 
impressed  the  Indians  with  a  respect  for  the  United 
States  government.  In  June,  1846,  he  received  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general,  and  was  sent  out  from  Fort  Leaven- 
worth  on  the  expedition  to  New  Mexico  and  Cali 
fornia,  the  particulars  of  which  we  have  before  given. 
He  exposed  himself  very  much  at  the  battle  of  San 
Pasqual,  as  he  always  does  when  there  is  danger  near. 
He  was  severely  wounded  with  a  lance,  and  would  have 
been  killed  had  not  Lieutenant  Emory  of  the  topogra 
phical  corps,  rode  up  in  time  to  shoot  the  enemy  as  he 
was  about  to  make  a  second  thrust. 

A  dispute  as  to  rank  and  authority  occurred  between 
himself  and  Commodore  Stockton  in  California,  by  which 
the  interests  of  the  country  in  some  hands  might  have 
been  compromised.  As  it  was,  however,  private  disa 
greements  produced  no  public  wrongs,  and  the  question 
was  eventually  settled  by  the  trial  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont  by  a  court  martial,  he  having  preferred  to  obey 
the  commands  of  Commodore  Stockton  rather  than  those 
of  General  Kearny. 


COLONEL  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

1  HE  services  of  Colonel  Fremont  in  his  cele- 
|\  brated  expedition  to  Oregon,  are  too  well 
known  to  require  recapitulation  here,  and 
his  exploits  in  California  have  already  been 
narrated.  We  propose  merely  to  give  in 
this  connection  some  illustrations  of  his  character, 
and  to  express  a  hope  that  the  result  of  a  court-martial, 
before  which  he  is  now  being  tried,  at  Washington,  for 
alleged  offences,  growing  out  of  the  dispute  between 
Commodore  Stockton  and  General  Kearny,  may  not 
change  his  pursuit  in  life.* 

Pico,  the  brother  of  the  governor  of  California,  had 
been  dismissed  by  the  Americans  on  parole,  and  was 
recaptured  in  the  act  of  breaking  it.  He  was  condemned 
by  court-martial  to  death,  and  twelve  o'clock  was  the 
hour  fixed  for  his  execution.  The  soldiers  were  cla 
morous  for  his  death  as  a  traitor,  but  the  gallant  colonel 
could  not  bear  the  thought  of  killing  an  enemy  in  any 
*  1848.  (285) 


286  THE    WARRIORS. 

Humanity  triumpliant   over  discipline. 

other  way  than  on  the  battle-field,  and  he  was  meditat- 
'  ing  upon  the  matter  with  a  heavy  heart,  when  a  com 
pany  of  ladies  and  children  was  led  into  the  room,  and 
on  their  knees  begged  the  life  of  a  husband  and  a  father. 
The  question  was  settled.  Humanity  triumphed  over 
discipline  and  the  laws  of  war.  He  raised  the  mother 
and  exclaimed,  "he  is  pardoned,"  and  sent  for  the 
prisoner  that  he  might  learn  his  fate  from  the  happy 
faces  of  his  friends.  He  was  overpowered  with  emo 
tion.  He  had  learned  his  fate  with  all  the  pride  and 
dignity  of  a  Spaniard,  but  he  could  not  bear  the  news 
of  pardon.  He  threw  himself  at  the  colonel's  feet, 
swore  eternal  fidelity,  and  begged  the  privilege  of  fight 
ing  and  dying  for  him.  How  firm  a  friend  he  has  since 
been  may  be  apparent  from  the  subjoined  account  of 
Colonel  Fremont's  ride,  taken  from  the  National  Intelli 
gencer.  They  passed  over  eight  hundred  miles  in  eight 
days,  including  two  days  detention  and  all  stoppages. 
Don  Pico  is  called  by  his  Christian  name  Jesus,  pro 
nounced  Haisoos. 

"  It  was  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  March, 
that  the  party  set  out  from  la  Ciudad  de  los  Angelos  (the 
city  of  the  Angels,)  in  the  southern  part  of  Upper  Cali 
fornia,  to  proceed  in  the  shortest  time  to  Monterey,  on 
the  Pacific  ocean,  distant  full  four  hundred  miles.  The 
way  is  over  a  mountainous  country,  much  of  it  unin 
habited,  with  no  other  road  than  a  trace,  and  many  de 
files  to  pass,  particularly  the  maritime  defile  of  El  Rincon, 
or  Punto  Gordo,  fifteen  miles  in  extent,  made  by  the 
jutting  of  a  precipitous  mountain  into  the  sea,  which 
can  only  be  passed  when  the  tidev  is  out,  and  the  sea 
calm,  and  even  then  in  many  places  through  the  waves 


JOHN    C.  FREMONT.  287 

Extraordinary  travelling. 

The  towns  of  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Luis  Obispo  and 
occasional  ranches,  are  the  principal  inhabited  places  on 
the  route.  Each  of  the  party  had  three  horses,  nine  in 
all,  to  take  their  turns  under  the  saddle.  The  six  loose 
horses  ran  ahead  -without  bridle  or  halter,  and  required 
some  attention  to  keep  to  the  track. 

When  wanted  for  a  change,  say  at  distances  of  twenty 
miles,  they  were  caught  by  the  lasso,  thrown  either  by 
Don  Jesus  or  the  servant  Jacob,  who,  though  born  and 
raised  in  Washington,  in  his  long  expeditions  with 
Colonel  Fremont  had  become  as  expert  as  a  Mexican  with 
the  lasso,  as  sure  as  a  mountaineer  with  the  rifle,  equal  to 
either  on  horse  or  foot,  and  always  a  lad  of  courage  and 
fidelity.  None  of  the  horses  were  shod,  that  being  a 
practice  unknown  to  the  Californians.  The  most  usual 
gait  was  a  sweeping  gallop.  The  first  day  they  rode  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  passing  the  San  Fernando 
mountain,  the  defile  of  the  Rincon,  several  other  moun 
tains,  and  slept  at  the  hospitable  rancho  of  Don  Tomas 
Robberis,  beyond  the  town  of  Santa  Barbara.  The  only 
fatigue  complained  of  in  this  day's  ride  was  in  Jacob's 
right  arm,  made  tired  by  throwing  the  lasso  and  using 
it  as  a  whip  to  keep  the  loose  horses  to  the  track. 

The  next  day  they  made  another  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  miles,  passing  the  formidable  mountain  of 
Santa  Barbara,  and  counting  upon  it  the  skeletons  of 
some  fifty  horses,  part  of  near  double  that  number  which 
perished  in  the  crossing  of  that  terrible  mountain  by  the 
California  battalion  on  Christmas  day,  1846,  amidst  a 
raging  tempest,  and  a  deluge  of  rain  and  cold  more  kill 
ing  than  that  of  the  Sierra  Nevada — the  day  of  severest 
suffering,  say  Fremont  and  his  men,  tha4  they  have  ever 


288  THE    WARRIORS. 

Extraordinary  travelling. 

passed.  At  sunset  the  party  stopped  to  sup  with  the 
friendly  Captain  Dana,  and  at  nine  San  Luis  Obispo  was 
reached,  the  home  of  Don  Jesus,  where  an  affecting- 
reception  awaited  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  in  conse 
quence  of  an  incident  which  occurred  there,  that  history 
will  one  day  record  ;*  and  he  was  detained  till  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning  receiving  the  visits  of  the  inhabit 
ants,  (mothers  and  children  included,)  taking  a  break 
fast  of  honour,  and  waiting  for  a  relief  of  fresh  horses  to 
be  brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country. 

Here  the  nine  horses  from  los  Angelos  were  left  and 
eight  others  taken  in  their  places,  and  a  Spanish  boy 
added  to  the  party  to  assist  in  managing-  the  loose 
horses.  Proceeding  at  the  usual  gait  till  eight  at  night, 
and  having  made  some  seventy  miles,  Don  Jesus,  \vhc 
had  spent  the  night  before  with  his  family  and  friends, 
<md  probably  with  but  little  sleep,  became  fatigued,  and 
proposed  a  halt  for  a  few  hours.  It  was  in  the  valley 
of  the  Salinas,  (Salt  river,  called  Buena  Ventura  in  the 
old  maps,)  and  the  haunt  of  marauding  Indians.  For 
safety  during  their  repose,  the  party  turned  off  the  trace 
issued  through  a  Canada  into  a  thick  wood,  and  lay 
down,  the  horses  being  put  to  grass  at  a  short  distance 
with  the  Spanish  boy  in  the  saddle  to  watch.  Sleep, 
when  commenced,  was  too  sweet  to  be  easily  given  up, 
and  it  was  half  way  between  midnight  and  day  when  the 
sleepers  were  aroused  by  an  estampedo  among  the  horses 
and  the  calls  of  the  boy. 

The  cause  of  the  alarm  was  soon  found,  not  Indians, 
out  white  bears — this  valley  being  their   great  resort, 

*  The  pardon  narrated  before. 


JOHN    C,    FREMONT.  289 

Extraordinary  travelling. 

having  encountered  them  in  great  numbers  the  pre 
ceding  year.  The  character  of  these  bears  is  well 
known,  and  the  bravest  hunters  do  not  like  to  meet 
them  without  the  advantage  of  numbers.  On  dis 
covering  the  enemy,  Colonel  Fremont  felt  for  his 
pistols,  but  Don  Jesus  desired  him  to  lie  still,  saying 
that  "  people  could  scare  bears,"  and  immediately  he 
halloed  at  them  in  Spanish,  and  they  went  off.  Sleep 
went  off  also,  and  the  recovery  of  the  horses  frightened 
by  the  bears,  building  a  rousing  fire,  making  a  breakfast 
from  the  hospitable  supplies  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  occu 
pied  the  party  till  daybreak,  when  the  journey  was 
resumed.  Eighty  miles,  and  the  afternoon  brought  the 
party  to  Monterey. 

The  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  the  party  set  out  on 
their  return,  and  the  two  horses  ridden  by  Colonel  Fre 
mont  from  San  Luis  Obispo,  being  a  present  to  him 
from  Don  Jesus,  he  (Don  Jesus)  desired  to  make  an 
experiment  of  what  one  of  them  could  do.  They 
were  brothers,  one  a  grass  younger  than  the  other,  both 
of  the  same  colour,  (cinnamon,)  and  hence  called  el 
canal  o~  los  canalos,  (the  cinnamon,  or  the  cinnamons.) 
The  elder  brother  was  taken  for  the  trial,  and  the  jour 
ney  commenced  upon  him  at  leaving  Monterey,  the 
afternoon  well  advanced.  Thirty  miles  under  the  sad 
dle  done  that  evening,  and  the  party  stopped  for  the 
night.  In  the  morning  the  elder  canalo  was  again  under 
the  saddle  for  Colonel  Fremont,  and  for  ninety  miles  he 
carried  him  without  a  change,  and  without  apparent 
fatigue.  It  was  still  thirty  miles  to  San  Luis  Obispo, 
where  the  night  was  to  be  passed,  and  Don  Jesus  insisted 
that  canalo  could  easily  do  it,  and  so  said  the  horse  by 

13 


290  THE     WARRIORS. 


Extraordinary  travelling. 


his  looks  and  action.  But  Colonel  Fremont  would  not 
put  him  to  the  trial,  and,  shifting  the  saddle  to  the 
younger  brother,  the  elder  was  turned  loose  to  run  the 
remaining  thirty  miles  without  a  rider. 

He  did  so,  immediately  taking  the  lead  and  keeping 
it  all  the  way,  and  entering  San  Luis  in  a  sweeping  gal 
lop,  nostrils  distended,  snuffing  the  air  and  neighing  with 
exultation  of  his  return  to  his  native  pastures,  his  younger 
brother  all  the  while  running  at  the  head  of  the  horses 
under  the  saddle,  bearing  on  his  bit,  and  held  in  by  his 
rider.  The  whole  eight  horses  made  their  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  each  that  day,  (after  thirty  the  evening 
before,)  the  elder  cinnamon  making  ninety  of  his  under 
the  saddle  that  day,  besides  thirty  under  the  saddle  the 
evening  before ;  nor  was  there  the  least  doubt  that  he 
would  have  done  the  whole  distance  in  the  same  time 
if  he  had  continued  under  the  saddle. 

After  a  hospitable  detention  of  another  half  day  at 
San  Luis  Obispo,  the  party  set  out  for  Los  Angelos  on 
the  same  nine  horses  which  they  had  ridden  from  that 
place,  and  made  the  ride  back  in  about  the  same  time 
they  had  made  it  up,  namely  at  Jie  rate  of  one  hundred 
and  tW3nty-five  miles  a  day." 


so 


Major  McCullocb. 


MAJOR  BENJAMIN   McCULLOCH. 


AJOR  McCuLLOCH  was  born  in  Rutherford 
county,  Tennessee,  in  the  year  1814. 
His  father  had  seen  service  under  Ge 
neral  Jackson  in  the  Creek  war.  He 
removed  for  a  time  to  Alabama,  but 
Benjamin  remained  in  Tennessee  at 
school  for  some  years,  when  his  father  returned  to  the 
western  part  of  that  state,  and  Benjamin  lived  with  him 
employed  in  hunting  until  he  was  twenty-one. 

In  the  campaign  on  the  Rio  Grande,  he  told  an  anec 
dote  of  this  portion  of  his  life,  which  we  give  as  we  find 
it  in  Reid's  Scouting  Expeditions.  "  While  speaking 
about  the  course  we  had  travelled,  and  referring  to  our 
compass,  Captain  McCulloch  related  the  following  anec 
dote  : 

(293) 


294  THE    WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

"  An  old  woodman,"  said  he,  "seldom  wants  a  com 
pass  s5  long  as  he  can  see  the  sun,  and  even  when  it  is 
cloudy  you  can  always  tell  where  the  sun  is,  by  a  slight 
shadow  from  objects,  be  it  ever  so  obscured.  I  recollect 
once  I  went  a  hunting  with  a  gentleman  and  my  father, 
and  crossing  the  river  in  a  boat,  we  hauled  it  up  on 
the  shore,  and  put  out  into  the  woods.  Well,  we  did 
not  meet  with  much  luck,  and  so  we  put  back  for  the 
boat.  It  was  a  cloudy  day  and  the  gentleman  carried  a 
pocket  compass  with  him,  and  pointed  out  our  course 
back.  We  followed  the  direction  for  some  time,  but 
could  see  no  river.  That  we  were  lost  was  now  beyond 
a  doubt.  And  father  becoming  tired  of  following  the 
course  of  the  gentleman's  compass,  determined  to  be 
guided  by  it  no  longer. 

"  'Well,  it  is  strange,'  said  the  gentleman, '  the  com 
pass  can't  be  wrong!' 

"  '  D — n  the  compass,'  said  father,  '  my  boy  Ben  is 
worth  all  the  compasses  I  ever  saw ;'  and,  turning  to  me, 
said,  { if  you  don't  take  us  right  straight  to  that  boat, 
Ben,  you  shall  never  go  on  another  hunt.' 

"  So  I  took  a  straight  shoot,  just  by  guessing  the  way 
the  woods  ran,  and  brought  -them  to  the  boat,  sure 
enough !  As  we  were  stepping  in  the  boat,  the  gen 
tleman  said,  with  a  laugh — 

"  Well,  that  boy  Ben  of  yours,  Mr.  McCulloch,  is  a 
perfect  magnetic  needle.  He  will  make  as  great  a 
geographer  as  his  celebrated  namesake.'  " 

He  would  kill  eighty  bears  in  a  winter.  When  he 
became  of  age,  he  set  out  for  St.  Louis,  in  order  to  join 
in  an  expedition  for  the  Rocky  mountains.  In  1835, 
he  wished  to  join  Colonel  David  Crockett,  in  an  expe- 


BENJAMIN   MCCULLOCH.  295 

His  personal  appearance. 

dition  that  was  about  to  take  part  in  the  Texas  revolu 
tion,  but  the  colonel  went  sooner  than  McCulloch  had 
supposed,  and  he  set  out  to  follow  him.  At  the  river 
Brazos,  he  was  taken  very  ill  and  did  not  recover  until 
after  the  fall  of  the  Alamo.  He  went  on,  however,  and 
was  made  captain  of  a  gun  in  the  army  of  Texas  under 
General  Houston,  which  he  served  with  effect  in  the  mem 
orable  battle  of  San  Jacinth  He  served  in  all  the  border 
warfare  of  the  day,  and  was  present  at  the  taking  of 
Mier,  though  he  returned  home  directly  afterwards,  and 
thus  escaped  the  fate  of  his  comrades. 

In  the  Mexican  war  he  has  been  as  useful  as  any  man 
in  the  American  army ;  his  scouting  expeditions  being 
among  the  boldest  achievements  of  the  war.  "  He  is  a 
man  of  delicate  frame,  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height, 
with  light  hair  and  complexion.  His  features  are  rather 
regular  and  pleasing,  though  from  long  exposure  on  the 
frontier  they  have  a  weather-beaten  cast.  His  quick 
and  bright  blue  eye,  with  a  mouth  of  thin  compressed 
lips,  indicate  the  cool,  calculating,  as  well  as  the  brave 
and  daring  energy  of  the  man."  This  is  the  description 
given  of  him  by  S.  C.  Reid,  Esq.,  in  his  account  of  the 
gallant  captain's  scouting  expeditions. 

We  quote  Mr.  Reid's  account  of  some  incidents 
in  the  cavalry  fight  with  which  General  Worth  com 
menced  the  battle  at  Monterey,  as  it  illustrates  the 
Rangers'  desperate  yet  chivalric  method  of  fighting. 
"Armstrong,  one  of  our  company,  was  unhorsed  by  a 
lancer,  having  received  two  wounds  ;  yet  on  foot,  with 
sword  in  hand  he  defended  himself  against  two  of  the 
enemy.  He  killed  one,  when  an  Irishman  from  the 
artillery  battalion  discovered  his  situation,  and  saying 


296  THE    WARRIORS. 

The  Bangers  at  Monterey. 

that  he  did  not  know  whether  he  had  buck  or  ball  in,  as 
he  drew  up  his  musket,  but  that  he  had  better  kill  them 
both,  than  to  miss  the  Mexican,  fired  and  saved  the 
Ranger !  Fielding  Alston,  and  J.  F  Minter,  also  of  our 
company,  while  fighting  gallantly  received  two  lance 
wounds.  Young  Musson  of  New  Orleans,  who  had 
joined  our  corps,  was  engaged  at  the  same  time,  with  a 
captain  of  cavalry,  hand  to  hand  in  a  sword  fight,  and 
at  one  time  became  very  nearly  overpowered ;  when 
asked  why  he  did  not  shoot  his  foe,  replied,  with  true 
southern  chivalry,  that  "  the  Mexican  had  no  pistol,  and 
it  would  have  been  taking  an  advantage  over  him  !"  As 
another  of  our  men  was  being  overcome  by  a  Mexican, 
the  gallant  Captain  Cheshire,  a  private  in  the  Rangers, 
dashed  up  to  his  rescue,  and  having  no  fire,  seized  a 
holster  pistol,  and  with  the  butt  end  of  it,  felled  the 
Mexican  to  the  ground. 


Captain  Walker. 


CAPTAIN    SAMUEL    H.  WALKER. 

APTAIN  WALKER  entered  the  Ame 
rican  service  with  a  reputation 
early  established  by  his  services 
in  the  cause  of  the  gallant  state 
of  Texas.  A  native  of  Maryland, 
he  left  his  residence  in  Washing 
ton  city  to  serve  in  the  Creek 
war,  after  which  he  passed  a  campaign  against  the  Indians 
in  Florida,  and  was  for  awhile  superintendent  of  a  rail 
road.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to  Texas  and  served  in 
her  operations  against  Mexico  with  honour.  He  was  one 
of  Colonel  Fisher's  company  of  three  hundred  men  in 
the  famous  Mier  expedition.  He  was  captured  while 
on  a  scout  before  the  Texan  army  reached  that  place, 
and  after  his  comrades  were  defeated,  they  were  all 
marched  together  to  Matamoras,  thence  to  Perote  castle, 
on  their  way  to  the  capital.  As  they  proceeded,  their 

f299) 


300  THE    WARRIORS. 

Escapes  from  Peroto. 

treatment  became  daily  more  and  more  cruel,  and  at 
Salado  they  determined  to  revolt  and  escape.  Headed 
by  Walker  and  Cameron,  a  Scotchman,  each  of  whom 
seized  and  overpowered  one  of  the  sentinels,  at  the 
inner  door  of  the  prison  yard,  they  rushed  into  the 
outer  court  where  a  hundred  and  fifty  Mexican  infantry 
were  guarding  the  arms  and  cartridge  boxes.  These 
were  soon  driven  out,  and  the  Texans  armed  themselves 
while  the  Mexican  cavalry  and  infantry  formed  at  the 
gate.  The  brave  band  of  prisoners  charged  through  them, 
killing  ten,  wounding  more  of  them,  losing  ten  of  their 
own  men,  five  killed  and  five  wounded.  They  escaped 
but  lost  their  way,  became  involved  in  the  mountains  by 
false  information,  starved  almost  to  death,  and  were  finally 
recaptured.  They  were  taken  to  Salado,  where  Santa 
Anna  ordered  every  tenth  man  to  be  shot.  Among 
those  thus  murdered  was  the  gallant  Scotchman,  Cam 
eron.  Walker  afterwards  made  his  escape  from  Ta- 
cubaya,  Santa  Anna's  residence,  and  after  suffering 
hardships  enough  to  have  killed  almost  any  one  else,  he 
arrived  safe  at  New  Orleans.  In  one  month  he  returned 
to  Texas,  and  served  in  Hays's  command,  until  General 
Taylor  went  to  the  Rio  Grande,  when  he  went  thither 
to  offer  the  services  of  Captain  Gillespie's  company  in 
which  he  was  a  private.  He  found  there  some  thirty  of 
the  old  Rangers  who  had  followed  the  army  from  Corpus 
Christi,  in  hopes  to  see  a  little  '  fun,'  and  they  urged 
him  to  form  a  company.  General  Taylor  gave  him  per 
mission  to  do  so,  after  the  murder  of  Colonel  Cross,  and 
the  company  of  Texas  Rangers  was  speedily  organized. 
The  services  of  this  brave  band  are  too  well  known 
and  appreciated  to  require  recounting  here.  There  are 


SAMUEL     H.    WALKER.  301 

His  death. 

few  officers  in  the  army  who  possess  a  greater  share  of 
popular  affection  than  Captain  Walker  enjoyed,  and  his 
recent  death  at  Huamantla  cast  a  feeling  of  sorrow  over 
the  whole  country.  General  Lane  says  in  his  official 
account  of  the  battle  : — "  This  victory  is  saddened  by  the 
loss  of  one  of  the  most  chivalric,  noble-hearted  men  that 
graced  the  profession  of  arms — Captain  Samuel  H. 
Walker  of  the  mounted  riflemen.  Foremost  in  the 
advance,  he  had  routed  the  enemy  when  he  fell  mortally 
wounded.  In  his  death  the  service  has  met  with  a  loss 
which  cannot  be  repaired." 

In  the  same  battle,  Surgeon  Lamar  was  at  the  side  of 
Captain  Walker  when  the  charge  was  made,  and  was 
saved  by  the  devoted  act  of  Walker's  slave  David,  who 
caught  at  the  lance  aimed  at  him  and  received  it  him- 

O 

?c.lf.  He  died  in  a  few  minutes,  as  he  probably  would 
lave  wished,  after  the  death  of  his  master.  In  death  as 
in  life,  they  were  together. 


Colonel  Have. 


COLONEL  JOHN  COFFEE  HAYS. 

OLONEL  HAYS  is  twenty-nine  years  of 
age,  about  five  feet  eight  inches  in 
height,  with  a  complexion  once  fair, 
but  now  weatherbeaten  and  dark,  dark 
brown  hair,  a  hazel  eye,  broad  fore 
head,  Roman  nose,  large  mouth,  and 
a  thoughtful,  careworn  expression,  amounting  to  a  frown, 
always  upon  his  face,  which  as  a  whole  expresses  the 
utmost  firmness  and  determination  on  the  part  of  its 
possessor.  His  adventures  would  fill  a  large  volume. 
He  was  born  in  Wilson  county,  Tennessee,  emigrated  to 
Texas,  as  a  surveyor,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  soon 
became  distinguished  as  a  successful  Indian  fighter,  as 

(305) 


306  THE    WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

well  among  the  Indians  themselves  as  among  the  Texans. 
He  was  made  commander  of  the  frontier  with  the  rank 
of  major  in  1840.  A  story  is  told  of  his  having  defended 
himself  alone,  for  three  hours  against  a  large  party  of 
Indians  on  the  top  of  the  Enchanted  Rock,  a  hill  on 
the  frontier  of  Texas.  He  had  his  rifle  and  "  five  shooter," 
and  the  Indians  knew  their  man  so  well,  that  for  a  long 
time  he  had  only  to  raise  his  rifle  when  they  approached 
and  they  would  drop  back.  At  length  becoming  exas 
perated,  they  determined  on  taking  this  "  devil  Jack," 
as  they  called  him,  and  he  laid  several  of  them  low. 
As  two  or  three  of  them  would  rush  up  to  the  spot  where 
he  had  intrenched  himself,  he  would  shoot  them,  reload 
in  the  pause  that  would  follow,  and  give  the  next  cus 
tomer  a  similar  reception.  At  last,  just  as  they  were 
determined  to  take  him  at  any  cost,  his  men  having 
learned  his  danger  by  the  report  of  his  rifle,  came  to 
his  relief.  A  battle  ensued,  the  Indians  were  routed, 
and  Captain  Jack  was  more  firmly  believed  to  bear  a 
charmed  life  than  ever. 

One  day  talking  with  some  chiefs  at  San  Antonio,  one 
of  them  asked  him  why  he  so  often  went  out  alone,  in 
curring  danger  without  a  chance  of  aid.  Another  Indian 
answered  for  him.  "  Blue  Wing  and  I,"  pointing  to 
his  companion,  "  no  fraid  to  go  to  hell  together — Captain 
Jack,  great  brave — no  fraid  to  go  to  hell  by  himself." 
By  which  handsome  compliment  he  meant  to  imply  that 
Hays  was  not  afraid  to  face  any  danger  or  death  alone. 

The  following  anecdote  of  a  ranger  will  show  to  what 
an  extent  he  carries  his  discipline,  and  perhaps  develop 
the  secret  of  his  success  as  a  partisan  soldier.  At  the 
time  the  advance  of  General  Worth's  division  had 


JOHN    COFFEE    HAYS.  307 


Anecdote. 


reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  on  which  stood  the  Bishop's 
Pa-lace,  before  his  attempt  to  capture  the  heights  around, 
and  while  the  enemy  were  raining  grapeshot  among  his 
command  from  Federation  hill  and  Independence  hill. 
One  of  the  rangers  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Hays  to 
ascend  a  large  tree,  in  the  corn-field,  and  reconnoiter  the 
Mexican  infantry.  The  ranger  reported,  that  the  enemy 
kept  their  position,  without  any  seeming  intention  of 
advancing ;  and  receiving  no  order  to  descend,  being 
within  direct  range  of  the  enemy  battery,  and  the  shot 
flying  high,  he  asked  the  colonel  if  he  should  come  down. 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Hays,  "wait  for  orders." 

Soon  after,  the  Texans  were  directed  to  return,  when 
they  moved  rapidly  off,  leaving  the  ranger  up  the  tree ; 
and  Hays's  attention  being  called  to  the  fact,  he  ran 
back,  and  cried  out, 

"Holloa,  there — where  are  the  Mexicans?" 

"  Going  back  up  the  hill,"  replied  the  ranger,  with 
out  knowing  who  it  was  that  addressed  him. 

"Well,  hadn't  you  better  come  down  from  there?" 
said  Hays. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  ranger,  "  I  am  waiting  for 
orders." 

"  Well,  then,  I  order  you  down,"  said  Hays. 

The  ranger  discovering  it  to  be  his  colonel,  without 
waiting  for  a  second  call,  like  Martin  Scott's  coon, 
forthwith  descended  from  the  tree. 


COLONEL  W.  H.  WATSON. 

N  the  prime  of  life,  Colonel  William  H. 
Watson  left  his  home  and  his  profession 
as  a  lawyer,  in  Baltimore  city,  and  enrolled 
his  name  among  the  patriots  who  were  de 
fending  by  arms  his  country's  rights.  He 
performed  well  his  duty :  he  fulfilled  all  that  the  most 
sanguine  of  his  friends  expected  of  him,  and  when  he 
fell,  there  was  a  calm  triumphant  smile  upon  his  face 
that  spoke  a  double  victory — one  over  his  country's  ene 
mies,  and  the  other  over  the  great  destroyer  himself.  So 
much  was  he  esteemed  in  his  native  city,  that  when  the 
news  of  his  fall  was  received,  the  flags  of  the  shipping 
were  lowered  halfmast,  the  different  military  and  civic 
societies  were  convened  to  pay  tributes  to  his  memory 
and  worth.  At  the  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  bar, 
J.  V.  L.  McMahon,  Esq.,  offered  a  number  of  resolu 
tions,  among  which  was  the  following  testimonial  of  the 
excellence  of  his  private  character. 

(309) 


310  THE     WARRIORS. 

His  gallantry. 

"  Resolved,  That  while  we  deplore  the  loss  of  a  youth 
ful  warrior,  whose  patriotism,  courage,  and  untiring 
energy,  gave  the  brightest  promise  to  his  country,  we 
most  deeply  mourn  the  death  of  one  who,  as  a  member 
of  this  bar,  was  respected  by  all  for  his  professional 
bearing,  and  loved  by  those  who  best  knew  him,  for  the 
warmth  and  steadfastness  of  his  friendship." 

The  gallantry  with  which  he  led  his  beloved  Balti 
more  battalion  to  victory,  has  been  well  described  by 
one  of  its  officers  whose  letter  we  quote. 

"I  saw  Colonel  Watson  shouting,  but  as  to  hearing  a 
command,  that  was  an  impossibility,  owing  to  the  deaf 
ening  roar  of  the  cannon  and  musketry.  I  saw  the 
head  of  our  line  changing  its  direction,  and  I  knew  at 
once  that  the  point  of  attack  was  changed,  and  ran  to 
the  head  of  my  company  to  intercept  the  head  of  the 
column.  I  reached  it  just  as  Colonel  Watson  was  dis 
mounting  from  his  horse,  which  the  next  moment  fell 
from  a  shot.  The  colonel  cried  out  to  his  men,  '  Shelter 
yourselves,  men,  the  best  way  you  can.'  At  this  time, 
the  battalion  was  scattered  over  a  space  of  about  an  acre, 
and  the  men  were  lying  down,  the  shot  in  most  instances 
flying  over  our  heads  ;  but  the  guns  were  soon  depressed 
and  the  shot  began  to  take  effect. 

I  was  lying  close  to  Colonel  Watson,  alongside  of  a 
hedge,  when  he  jumped  up  and  cried  out,  *  Now's  the 
time,  boys,  follow  me.'  We  were  now  in  a  street  or 
lane,  with  a  few  houses  on  either  side,  and  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  three  batteries  which  completely  raked 
it,  in  addition  to  which,  two  twelve-pound  guns  were 
planted  in  the  castle  on  the  right,  and  completely  enfi 
laded  the  whole  distance  we  had  to  make.  Add  to  this, 


WILLIAM     H.     WATSON.  31 

The  Baltimore  battalion. 

the  thousand  musketeers  on  the  house-tops,  and  in  the 
barricades  at  the  head  of  the  street  up  which  we  ad 
vanced,  and  at  every  cross  street,  and  you  may  form 
some  idea  of  the  deluge  of  balls  poured  upon  us.  (Bear 
in  mind  that  the  four  companies  of  regulars  were  now 
with  us,  the  one  intermingled  with  the  other.)  Onward 
we  went,  men  and  horses  falling  at  every  step.  Cheers, 
shrieks,  groans,  and  words  of  command  added  to  the 
din,  whilst  the  roar  of  the  guns  was  absolutely  deafening. 

We  had  advanced  up  the  street  under  this  awful  and 
fatal  fire,  nearly  two  hundred  yards,  when  we  reached  a 
cross  street,  at  the  corner  of  which  all  who  had  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  this  far  alive,  halted,  as  if  by  mutual 
consent.  I  was  shaking  Colonel  Watson  by  the  hand, 
while  he  was  complimenting  me,  when  a  shower  of 
grape,  round,  and  canisijr  shot  came  from  the  corner 
above,  and  five  officers  fell,  and  I  do  riot  know  how 
many  privates.  Each  n,an  sought  some  place  of  appa 
rent  shelter. 

I  sat  down  on  the  ground,  with  my  back  to  the  wall 
of  a  house.  On  my  left  were  two  men  torn  nearly  to 
pieces.  One  of  them  was  lying  flat  on  his  back,  with 
his  legs  extending  farther  into  the  street  than  mine. 
Crash  came  another  shower  of  grape,  which  tore  one  of 
his  wounded  legs  off.  He  reared  up,  shrieked,  and  fell 
back  a  corpse.  I  never  moved,  for  I  was  satisfied  that 
one  place  was  as  safe  as  another.  Directly  opposite  to 
me  was  my  brevet  2d  Lieutenant  Aisquith  ;  on  the  right 
hand  corner  was  Lieutenant  Bowie,  also  of  my  company ; 
and  close  to  me  sat  Colonel  Watson  and  Adjutant  Schse- 
ler.  In  a  few  minutes,  I  saw  our  colour-sergeant,  old 
Hart,  come  past  with  his  right  arm  shattered,  (it  has 


312  THE     vVARRIORS. 

The  Baltimore  battalion. 

since  been  amputated,)  and  in  a  few  minutes,  there 
came  our  battalion  flag,  borne  by  one  of  the  colour- 
guards,  our  glorious  stars  and  stripes ;  and,  note  this, 
that  it  was  the  first  American  flag  in  the  city  of  Monte 
rey — an  honour  which  we  know  belongs  to  our  bat 
talion.  *  *  *  *  Above,  below,  alongside,  between  legs 
and  arms,  every  where  the  balls  whistled  and  howled. 
The  air  seemed  cut  to  pieces  by  the  quantity  that  the 
artillery  hurled  at  us,  and  it  would  be  childish  to  tell 
how  close  they  came  to  me,  and  what  and  how  many 
escapes  I  had.  I  was  exposed  to  shot  in  that  fight  for 
nine  hours.  *  *  *  *  Colonel  Watso.i  met  with  a  gallant 
soldier's  death — his  face  to  the  foe.  I-L  \>ss  is  deplored 
by  all  who  know  his  generosity  of  heart  and  chivalry 
of  character.  To  me,  individually,  it  is  great,  but  to 
the  battalion  it  is  irreparable." 


General  ScoU. 


GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

HE  genial  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion,  noble, 
brave,  patriotic  Virginia,  which  has  given 
to  the  republic  a  host  of  illustrious  names, 
in  the  senate,  the  army,  and  on  the  ocean, 
was  the  birthplace  also  of    the    gallant 
soldier  whose  life  forms  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 
Winfield  Scott  was  born  June   13th,  1786,  at  the 
family  seat,    near  Petersburg.      His   parents  were  of 
Scottish  descent. 

Of  his  earlier  years  but  little  is  known  out  of  the 
circle  of  his  family.  He  chose  the  legal  profession,  and 
finished  his  studies  at  about  his  twenty-first  year.  His 
disposition  for  military  pursuits  manifested  itself  about 
the  same  time.  The  proclamation  of  the  president, 
issued  after  the  dastardly  attack  on  the  Chesapeake, 

(315) 


316  THE     WARRIORS. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Queenstown. 

having  induced  the  formation  of  volunteer  corps  in 
various  parts  of  the  country,  Scott  enrolled  himself  in 
the  troop  of  horse  raised  in  Petersburg.  This  was  in 
1807. 

Early  in  the  succeeding  year  he  obtained  a  commis 
sion  as  captain  in  the  light  artillery  corps  of  the  United 
States  army.  During  the  four  years  intervening  before 
the  declaration  of  war,  he  continued  in  this  rank,  but 
nothing  occurred  to  break  the  monotony  of  a  soldier's 
life  in  time  of  peace. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  with  England,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the 
2d  regiment  of  artillery,  and  ordered  to  Black  Rock, 
where  lieutenant,  afterwards  Commodore,  Elliott,  and 
himself  co-operated  in  cutting  out  two  British  armed  brigs, 
anchored  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1812,  he  was  taken  prisoner 
in  the  battle  of  Queenstown,  after  resisting  with  three 
hundred,  an  army  of  enemies  numbering  thirteen  hundred. 

During  the  battle  he  had  been  conspicuous  for  daring 
courage  and  perfect  coolness  and  self-possession.  His 
tall  and  commanding  form  made  him  a  constant  mark 
for  the  Indian  sharp  shooters,  who  vainly  tried  to  hit 
him.  So  great  was  their  exasperation  at  their  want  of 
success,  that  after  the  battle  they  could  with  difficulty 
be  restrained  from  committing  violence  to  his  person, 
and  it  was  found  necessary  to  place  him  under  a  close 
guard. 

Having  been  exchanged,  he  rejoined  the  army  in 
May,  1813,  and  shortly  afterwards  won  the  battle  of 
Fort  George.  He  was  the  first  to  enter  the  fort  and 
pull  down  the  British  flag,  closely  followed  by  Colonel 


WINFIELD   SCOTT.  317 

In  the  tattles  of  Chippewa  and  Niagara. 

Porter,  who   exclaimed,   "  Confound  your   long  legs, 
Scott,  you  have  got  in  before  me." 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1814,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general.  In  that  capacity  he  fought  in 
the  battle  of  Chippewa.  He  was  ever  where  the  balls 
flew  thickest.  During  the  battle,  he  called  out  to  a  bat 
talion,  "  The  enemy  say  we  are  good  at  longshot,  but 
cannot  stand  the  cold  iron.  I  call  on  the  llth  instantly 
to  give  the  lie  to  that  slander.  Charge!"  The  charge 
thus  ordered  decided  the  day.  In  the  battle  of  Niagara, 
which  soon  followed,  General  Scott  had  two  horses 
killed  under  him,  received  a  wound  in  the  side  in  the 
midst  of  the  action,  and  was  afterwards  dangerously 
wounded  in  the  shoulder.  For  many  weeks  he  suffered 
from  the  wounds  received  on  this  day.  Congress  passed 
a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  skill  and  gallantry  at  Chippewa 
and  Niagara,  and  for  his  uniform  good  conduct  through 
out  the  war,  a  compliment  paid  by  Congress  to  no  other 
officer.  A  gold  medal  was  also  voted  to  him  by  Con 
gress.  This  medal  General  Scott  afterwards  deposited 
in  the  City  Bank  of  New  York  for  safe  keeping.  The 
bank  was  entered  and  robbed  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  but  the  gold  medal  was  left.  The 
robber  afterwards  said,  when  arrested,  that  in  taking  the 
gold  beside  it,  he  saw  the  medal,  and  knew  its  value, 
but  scorned  to  rob  a  man  of  the  reward  given  by  the 
gratitude  of  his  country  for  distinguished  services.  The 
states  of  New  York  and  Virginia  each  voted  him  thanks 
and  a  sword.  After  the  close  of  the  War,  General  Scott 
visited  Europe. 

He  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  part  of  a 
nurse-  in  the  hospitals,  where  he  watched  with  the  utmost 


318  THE    WARRIORS. 


Removes  the  Cherokee  Indians. 


solicitude,  while  sick  himself,  the  bedsides  of  the  many 
unfortunate  soldiers  who  were  sick  with  the  cholera. 

In  the  days  of  the  nullification  question  he  prepared 
to  stand  by  General  Jackson  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  but  took  care  by  his  bearing  to  conciliate  rather 
than  exasperate  the  people  of  South  Carolina.  In  the 
Florida  war  he  was  unfortunate,  devastating  diseases 
and  the  lateness  of  the  season  preventing  his  meeting 
the  enemy,  though  his  plan  of  campaign  was  well  de 
vised,  and  prosecuted  with  zeal,  energy,  steadiness, 
and  ability. 

During  the  winter  of  1838—9,  he  was  occupied  on 
the  Canada  frontier,  every  where  by  turns,  without  an 
army,  travelling  principally  by  night,  with  the  thermo 
meter  ranging  from  ten  to  forty  degrees  below  the  freez 
ing  point.  He  made  speeches  to  excited  sympathizing 
Americans  with  arms  in  their  hands,  scattered  along  a 
line  of  eight  hundred  miles,  and  with  the  happiest  effect. 
To  the  firmness  of  President  Van  Buren,  and  the  signal 
ability  of  General  Scott  the  country  owed  its  exemption 
from  what  appeared  to  be  the  inevitable  war  with  Great 
Britain. 

By  his  masterly  skill  and  energy  he  also  saved  the 
country  from  difficulties  with  the  Cherokees,  whom  he 
removed  to  the  west.  By  obtaining  the  esteem  and  con 
fidence  of  the  poor  Cherokees  themselves,  his  noble 
generosity  and  humanity  effected  what  all  supposed 
could  not  be  done  without  the  most  heartrending  scenes 
of  butchery  and  bloodshed.  The  Indians,  who  a  few 
months  before  were  ready  to  yield  their  lives  rather  than 
leave  their  homes,  looked  upon  the  very  man  who  had 


WINFIELD    SCOTT  319 

His  military  genius. 

executed  the  obnoxious  measure,  as  a  benefactor  and 
friend  who  had  saved  them  from  entire  destruction. 

His  country  found  his  services  invaluable  in  the 
settlement  of  the  Maine  boundary  question.  When  he 
was  ordered  to  command  the  invading  army  in  Mexico, 
he  obeyed  the  call  with  his  usual  promptness,  notwith 
standing  a  coolness  that  had  existed  for  some  time  be 
tween  him  and  the  government.  From  his  landing  at 
Vera  Cruz  till  the  capture  of  the  capital,  his  history  has 
been  detailed  in  the  preceding  pages.  Where  the 
danger  is  greatest  he  is  always  to  be  found,  regardless 
of  his  life,  and  only  anxious  for  the  safety  of  his  men. 
Walking  along  the  trenches  at  Vera  Cruz,  in  full  range 
of  the  enemy's  guns,  he  noticed  the  soldiers  rise  fre 
quently  and  look  over  the  parapet.  "Down,  down, 
men,"  he  exclaimed,  "  don't  expose  yourselves."  "  But, 
general,  you  are  exposed."  "  Oh,"  he  replied,  "  generals 
now-a-days  can  be  made  out  of  any  body,  men  cannot 
be  had." 

His  military  genius  and  foresight  has  shown  out  con 
spicuously  during  his  last  campaign.  With  signal  tact 
he  planned  the  details  of  all  his  battles,  and  prepared 
with  prophetic  eye  to  follow  up  his  victories  even  before 
they  were  gained.  In  a  few  short  weeks,  in  the  face  of 
gloomy  apprehensions  and  predictions,  he  seizes  the 
impregnable  key  to  the  high  road  to  the  capital,  storms 
the  Thermopylffi  of  the  country,  and  consummates  the 
work  by  an  achievement,  that  it  is  impossible  to  over 
rate,  the  taking  of  the  capital.  All  honour  to  SCOTT,  his 
officers,  and  his  men. 


General  Shields. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JAMES  SHIELDS. 

ENERAL  SHIELDS,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  all  our  officers  in 
the  Mexican  war,  is  a  native  of 
Ireland,  but  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  early  life.  Like  many 
of  his  countrymen,  he  took  a  warm 
interest  in  our  struggle  with  Great 
Britain,  and  entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant,  llth 
infantry,  September  1st,  1814.  He  appears  to  have 
served  with  credit  during  the  war,  but  left  the  service 
soon  after  its  close.  The  history  of  his  life  from  this 
time  uri'il  the  opening  of  the  Mexican  war,  is  lost  in  the 

(32-3) 


324  THE    WARRIORS. 

Shot  through  the  Lungs. 

obscurity  of  retirement.  But  his  merit  as  a  soldier  seems 
to  have  been  known  to  a  large  circle  of  friends ;  so  that 
on  the  1st  of  July,  1846,  (soon  after  the  opening  of  hos 
tilities  on  the  Rio  Grande,  he  received  the  appointment 
of  brigadier-general.  Leaving  his  residence  in  illinois, 
he  joined  the  Central  Division  of  General  Wool,  and 
accompanied  that  able  officer  in  his  famous  march  through 
the  provinces  of  Chihuahua  and  New  Mexico,  to  Mon- 
clova.  Here,  in  common  with  a  number  of  other  officers, 
he  was  detached  as  a  reinforcement  to  the  army  of  v^ene- 
ral  Scott.  At  Vera  Cruz  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
undaunted  bravery,  and  indefatigable  exertions,  being  in 
the  field  during  the  whole  time  that  the  siege  lasted,  and 
often  exposed  to  the  castle's  heaviest  fire. 

But  the  military  talents  of  General  Shields  were  first 
fully  developed  at  Cerro  Gordo.  In  the  general  orders 
of  April  17th,  he  was  intrusted  with  the  care  of  the 
Jalapa  road,  in  order  to  keep  the  enemy  in  that  quarter 
engaged  during  the  main  attack,  and  to  cut  off  retreat. 
In  both  these  objects  he  was  successful.  By  his  activity 
he  contributed  largely  to  the  victory  of  that  memorable 
day,  and  elicited  the  admiration  of  both  General  Scott 
and  his  brother  officers.  In  the  pursuit  he  received  a 
musket  ball  through  the  lungs,  by  which  he  was  imme 
diately  prostrated,  the  command  devolving  on  Colonel 
Baker.  His  life  was  for  a  while  despaired  of,  but 
eventually,  to  the  astonishment  of  all,  he  recovered. 

During  the  long  stay  of  the  army  at  Puebla  we  hear 
little  of  General  Shields;  but  he  again  appears  amid  the 
toils  and  dangers  of  the  march  toward  the  capital.  Late 
on  the  19th  of  August,  while  the  storming  of  Contreras 
was  in  progress,  he  was  sent  to  a  village  near  that  fort 


JAMES    SHIELDS.  325 

His  Magnanimity. 

in  order  to  afford  assistance  to  General  Smith.  A  deep 
rugged  ravine,  along  whose  bed  rolled  a  rapid  stream, 
was  passed  with  great  difficulty,  in  consequence  of  the 
increasing  darkness;  after  which  the  general  ordered 
his  weary  troops  to  lie  upon  their  arms  until  midnight, 
in  order  to  prepare  for  further  duty.  In  the  mean  while 
he  threw  out  two  strong  pickets,  who,  perceiving  a  body 
of  Mexican  infantry  moving  through  the  fields  toward 
the  city,  opened  a  sharp  fire,  and  succeeded  in  driving 
them  back.  At  midnight  Shields'  troops  resumed  their 
march,  and  soon  joined  Smith's  brigade,  at  the  place 
appointed.  BftnCTOft  f  Jhfljfjl 

At  this  time  General  Shields  performed  an  action  so 
delicate  and  magnanimous,  as  to  deserve  record  with  the 
more  dazzling  ones  which  were  soon  to  follow.  Previous 
to  his  arrival,  Smith  had  completed  those  judicious  ar 
rangements  for  turning  and  surprising  the  Mexican  po 
sition,  which  were  afterwards  so  brilliantly  successful. 
As  Shields  was  the  senior  officer,  he  could  have  assumed 
the  command,  as  well  as  the  execution  of  General 
Smith's  plans,  thus  debarring  that  officer  from  the  fruit 
of  his  labour.  But  this  he  nobly  refused  to  do,  and 
withdrew  his  men  to  the  position  formerly  occupied  by 
his  brother  veteran.  About  daybreak  the  Mexicans 
opened  a  brisk  fire  of  grape  and  round  shot  upon  the 
church  and  village  where  the  general  was  stationed,  as 
also  upon  a  part  of  the  troops  displayed  to  divert  him 
on  his  right  and  front.  This  continued  until  Colonel 
Riley's  brigade  opened  its  fire  from  the  rear,  which  was 
delivered  with  such  terrible  effect,  that  the  whole  Mexi 
can  force  wras  thrown  into  consternation. 

At  this  juncture  Shields  ordered  the  two  regiments  of 


326  THE   WARRIORS. 

Retreat  of  Mexican  Cavalry. 

his  command  to  throw  themselves  on  the  main  road  by 
which  the  enemy  must  retire,  so  as  to  intercept  and  cut 
off  their  retreat.  Although  officers  and  men  had  suffered 
severely  during  the  night's  march,  as  well  as  from  ex 
posure  without  shelter  or  cover,  to  the  incessant  rain 
until  daybreak,  this  movement  was  executed  in  good 
order  and  with  rapidity.  Crossing  a  deep  ravine,  the 
Palmetto  regiment  deployed  on  both  sides  of  the  road, 
and  opened  a  most  destructive  fire  upon  the  mingled 
masses  of  infantry  and  cavalry ;  and  the  New  York  regi 
ment,  brought  into  line  lower  down,  and  on  the  road 
side,  delivered  its  fire  with  a  like  effect.  At  this  point 
many  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wounded,  some 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  captured,  including  twenty- 
five  officers. 

Meanwhile  the  enemy's  cavalry,  about  three  thousand 
strong,  which  had  been  threatening  the  village  during 
the  morning,  moved  down  toward  it  in  good  order  as  if 
to  attack.  General  Shields  immediately  recalled  the  in 
fantry  so  as  to  place  them  in  a  position  for  meeting  the 
threatened  movement ;  but  the  cavalry  soon  changed  its 
position,  and  retreated  toward  the  capital.  Orders  now 
arrived  from  General  Twiggs  for  the  troops  to  advance 
by  the  main  road  toward  Mexico ;  and  accordingly 
having  posted  Captain  Marshall's  company  of  South 
Carolina  volunteers,  and  Captain  Taylor's  New  York 
volunteers  in  charge  of  the  wounded  and  prisoners, 
Shields  moved  off  with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  and 
reached  the  positions  of  those  divisions  already  moving 
on  the  main  road. 

After  turning  the  village  of  Coyoacan,  Shields  moved 
with  his  command  toward  the  right,  through  a  heavy 


JAMES    SHIELDS.  327 

"Wounded  in  the  Arm, 

corn-field,  and  gained  an  open  and  swampy  plain,  in 
which  is  situated  the  hacienda  de  los  Partales.  On 
arriving  there  he  established  his  right  upon  a  point  re 
commended  by  Captain  Lee,  an  engineer  officer  of  great 
skill  and  judgment,  at  the  same  time  commencing  a 
movement  to  the  left  so  as  to  flank  the  enemy's  right  and 
throw  his  troops  between  them  and  the  city.  Finding, 
however,  their  right  supported  by  a  body  of  cavalry, 
three  thousand  strong,  and  perceiving  that  the  enemy 
answered  to  his  own  movements  by  a  corresponding  one 
toward  the  American  right  flank,  and  owing  to  the  ad 
vantages  of  the  ground,  gaining  rapidly  on  him,  he  with 
drew  his  men  to  the  hacienda  for  the  purpose  of  attacking 
the  enemy  in  front.  The  conflict  was  close  and  stub 
born,  until  General  Shields,  taking  advantage  of  a  slight 
wavering  in  the  Mexican  ranks,  ordered  a  charge.  This 
was  obeyed  with  alacrity  and  success,  the  enemy  break 
ing  and  flying  on  all  sides.  Shields  continued  to  press 
upon  the  fugitives,  until  passed  by  Colonel  Harney  with 
his  cavalry  who  followed  the  routed  foe  into  the  very 
gates  of  the  city. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  General  Shields,  with  the 
New  York  and  South  Carolina  regiments,  was  ordered 
first  to  Piedad,  and  subsequently  to  Tacubaya,  prepara 
tory  to  the  assault  upon  Chapultepec.  Here  he  con 
tinued  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  the  enemy's  lines  until 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  when  his  command 
moved  to  the  assault.  While  directing  the  advance 
Shields  was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm ;  yet  no  per 
suasion  could  induce  him  to  leave  his  command  or  quit 
the  field.  In  company  with  the  remainder  of  Quitman's 
division,  he  pushed  rapidly  forward  along  the  Belen 


328 


THE    WARRIORS. 


Returns  to  the  United  States. 


road,  exposed  to  the  most  tremendous  fires,  overthrow 
ing  one  after  another  of  the  Mexican  strongholds,  until, 
finally  his  victorious  banners  were  planted  over  the  prin 
cipal  gateway.  When  night  fell  he  was  carried  from 
the  field  sick,  exhausted,  and  writhing  with  pain.  His 
wound,  although  severe,  was,  happily,  not  mortal ;  and 
rest,  together  with  careful  attention,  united  with  a  strong 
constitution,  speedily  restored  him  to  health. 

After  remaining  some  time  with  the  army  in  Mexico, 
General  Shields,  in  company  with  several  other  officers 
visited  the  United  States,  where  he  still  remains. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


CONCLUSION  OF  THE  WAR. 

Although  the  attempts  of  Mr.  Trist  to  conclude  a 
treaty  of  peace  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Churu- 
busco  had  not  been  successful,  yet,  in  concert  with  the 
commander-in-chief,  he  lost  no  opportunity  to  repeat 
his  overtures  for  so  desirable  an  object.  It  was  not, 
however,  until  the  beginning  of  the  following  year,  that 
the  Mexicans  would  listen  to  such  proposals.  Their 
army  was  then  reduced  to  a  few  insignificant  parties, 
scattered  here  and  there,  more  for  safety  than  any  hope 
of  opposition  to  the  invaders.  Even  the  guerillas  mani 
fested  symptoms  of  weariness.  Accordingly,  when  in 
January,  1848,  General  Scott  laid  before  the  Mexican 
congress  articles  of  a  treaty,  based  upon  those  formerly 
rejected,  that  body  immediately  appointed  Luis  G.  Cue- 
vas,  Bernardo  Conto,  and  Miguel  Atristain,  as  commis 
sioners.  These  gentlemen,  with  Mr.  Trist,  acting  on 
behalf  of  the  United  States,  assembled  at  Guadalupe 
Hidalgo,  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  "  peace,  friendship, 
limits,  and  settlement"  between  the  two  republics. 

The  only  thing  still  necessary  to  the  conclusion  of  the 
war,  was  the  ratification  of  the  new  treaty  by  the  legis 
lature  of  each  country.  In  February  the  attested  copy 
was  received  at  Washington  by  President  Polk,  and 
transmitted  to  the  United  States  senate.  After  being 
slightly  amended,  it  was  passed  in  that  body,  on  the 

(329) 


330  THE     WAR. 

Ratification  of  the  Treaty, 

10th  of  March,  by  a  large  majority.  Mr.  Sevier  was 
appointed  envoy  extraordinary  and  minister  plenipoten 
tiary  to  present  it  for  ratification  to  the  Mexican  con 
gress.  In  company  with  Mr.  Clifford,  he  soon  arrived 
at  Queretaro,  where  the  national  legislature  was  sitting, 
and  laid  before  that  body  the  corrected  copy  for  their  final 
action.  It  passed  through  both  houses  by  a  large  ma 
jority,  and  was  received  with  marked  satisfaction  by 
the  Mexican  people. 

By  this  instrument  the  boundary  line  between  the  two 
republics  was  made  to  begin  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  ascending  the  middle  of  that  river  to  the  south 
ern  boundary  of  New  Mexico,  thence  westwardly,  along 
the  whole  southern  boundary  of  New  Mexico,  to  its 
western  termination  ;  thence  northward  along  the  west 
ern  line  of  New  Mexico,  to  the  first  branch  of  the  river 
Gila ;  thence  down  the  middle  of  this  branch  and  river 
to  its  junction  with  the  Colorado  ;  thence  between  Upper 
and  Lower  California  to  the  Pacific.  It  secured  to  the 
United  States  the  vast  territories  of  New  Mexico,  Cali 
fornia,  Western  Texas,  and  the  Pacific  coast,  together 
with  the  fine  harbour  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  internal 
navigation  of  the  Colorado,  Gila,  and  other  rivers.  Fif 
teen  millions  of  dollars  were  to  be  paid  to  Mexico  by 
the  United  States  as  compensation  for  part  of  this  grant. 

By  an  article  of  the  treaty,  arrangements  had  been 
made,  for  withdrawing  all  the  United  States  troops  from 
the  Mexican  territory  within  three  months  after  the  final 
ratifications,  provided  it  could  be  effected  before  the 
commencement  of  the  sickly  season.  In  furtherance  of 
this  provision,  the  most  active  preparations  immediately 
commenced  for  marching  different  portions  of  the  army 


THE     WAR.  331 

Return  of  the  United  States  Troops, 

from  the  capital  and  interior  town  to  Vera  Cruz,  whither 
they  were  to  embark  for  New  Orleans.  Previous  to  this 
General  Scott  had  left  Mexico  to  attend  a  court  of  in 
quiry  appointed  by  government  to  investigate  recipro 
cal  charges  between  himself  and  Generals  Worth  and 
Pillow.  The  duty  of  superintending  the  evacuation  of 
the  capital,  and  subsequent  embarkation  from  Vera  Cruz, 
devolved  upon  the  temporary  general-in-chief,  Major- 
General  Butler.  In  the  early  part  of  June  the  greater 
part  of  the  soldiers  in  the  city  of  Mexico  marched  for 
Vera  Cruz,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Sevier.  They 
left  the  latter  city  by  detachments,  reached  New  Orleans 
about  the  middle  of  June,  and  thence  proceeded  by 
steamboat  or  railway,  towards  their  respective  homes. 
Nothing  can  exceed  the  enthusiasm  with  which  these 
toil-worn  veterans  were  hailed,  as  they  entered,  regiment 
by  regiment,  into  the  cities,  from  which,  two  years  before, 
they  had  marched  to  the  scene  of  strife.  Business  was 
suspended,  the  population  rushed  to  meet  them,  mili 
tary  and  civic  processions  attended  their  march,  ban 
quets  were  spread,  addresses  delivered,  and  presents 
bestowed  on  them  throughout  their  route. 

Thus  closed,  after  a  duration  of  two  years,  the  "  Mexi 
can  War."  It  gave  to  the  United  States  an  immense 
tract  of  fine  territory,  secured  one  of  the  finest  harbours 
in  the  world,  and  opened  the  road  to  a  lucrative  trade 
with  those  marts  of  oriental  wealth,  China  and  the  East 
Indies.  But  the  mere  question  of  gain  and  loss  is  the 
least  important  of  those  developed  during  the  struggle. 
Europe  has  long  contemplated  us  as  a  mere  commercial 
and  business-loving  nation,  smothering  our  former  mili 
tary  abilities,  in  inordinate  love  of  wealth.  The  Semi- 


332  THE    WAR. 

Beflections  on  the  War, 

nole  wars  have  been  sneeringly  alluded  to  as  proofs  of 
this  degeneracy ;  and  the  "  wasp-waisted  lieutenants" 
of  West  Point  has  been  a  mock  word  of  contempt,  used 
to  deride  that  cradle  of  military  science,  the  national 
academy.  The  war  in  Mexico  has  dissolved  this  vain 
dream,  and  taught  astonished  Europe  a  lesson,  whose 
precepts  will  be  remembered  in  every  one  of  her  bel 
ligerent  assemblies  for  ages.  As  an  evidence  of  mili 
tary  skill,  Spartan  valour,  and  patient  endurance — let  us 
add  magnanimity  to  a  humiliated  foe — the  Mexican  war 
is  an  episode  of  history,  having  but  few  parallels.  The 
tactics  displayed  in  the  great  campaign  against  the  capi 
tal,  has  far  surpassed  even  the  boasted  military  perfection 
of  the  French  schools.  How  far  it  surpasses  English 
ability  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  while  General 
Scott  was  making  his  preparations  for  assaulting  Vera 
Cruz,  most  of  the  British  prints  scouted  at  the  idea  of  his 
being  successful,  and  with  delusive  complacency  awaited 
the  gratifying  intelligence  that  the  aspiring  invaders  had 
been  completely  foiled.  When  the  astounding  truth  an 
nounced  to  them  how  immeasurably  superior  was  Ameri 
can  skill  to  English  bravery,  they  could  account  for  it 
only  by  asserting  that  the  castle  had  been  betrayed  by 
its  commandant.  Yet  great  as  was  that  achievement, 
it  is  now  spoken  of  only  as  an  ordinary  event  amid  the 
splendid  deeds  wrought  in  the  valley  of  Mexico. 

It  is,  therefore,  as  an  evidence  of  superior  skill,  as  well 
as  bravery  that  the  Mexican  war  will  in  future  be  prin 
cipally  regarded,  and  in  that  light  it  will  no  doubt  con 
vey  a  wholesome  warning  to  any  nation  which  might 
hereafter,  on  frivolous  pretences,  undertake  to  interrupt 
the  peace  which  happily  now  pervades  our  midst. 


TREATY 

OF  PEACE,  FRIENDSHIP,  LIMITS,  AND  SETTLEMENT, 

BETWEEN 

THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  AMERICA 

AND 

THE    MEXICAN   REPUBLIC. 

Concluded  at  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  Fcbraury  2,  and  Ratified,  icith  the  Amendments, 

by  the  American  Senate,  March  10, 1848 ;  also  Ratified  by  the 

Mexican  Congress,  May  25, 1848. 


THE    TREATY. 

IN  THE  NAME  OF  ALMIGHTY  GOD  : 

The  United  States  of  America  and  the  United  Mexican  States,  ani 
mated  by  a  sincere  desire  to  put  an  end  to  the  calamities  of  the  war 
which  unhappily  exists  between  the  two  Republics,  and  to  establish 
on  a  solid  basis  relations  of  peace  and  friendship,  which  shall  confer 
reciprocal  benefits  on  the  citizens  of  both,  and  assure  the  concord,  har 
mony  and  mutual  confidence  wherein  the  two  people  should  live  as  good 
neighbors,  have,  for  the  purpose,  appointed  their  respective  Plenipoten 
tiaries  ;  that  is  to  say,  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  appointed 
N.  P.  TRIST,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  the  President  of  the 
Mexican  Republic  has  appointed  Don  Louis  GONZAGA  CUEVAS,  Don 
BERNARDO  CONTO,  and  Don  MIGUEL  ATRISTAIN,  citizens  of  the  said  Re 
public,  who,  after  a  reciprocal  communication  of  their  respective  pow 
ers,  havtf,  under  the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  the  Author  of  Peace, 
arranged,  agreed  upon  and  signed  the  following  Treaty  of  Peace,  Friend 
ship,  Limits  and  Settlement,  between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
the  Mexican  Republic. 

ARTICLE    I. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  universal  peace  between  the  United  States  of  America 
and  the  Mexican  Republic,  and  between  their  respective  countries,  territories,  cities, 
towns  and  people,  without  exception  of  places  or  persons. 


THE      TREATY, 


ARTICLE    II. 

Immediately  on  the  signature  of  this  Treaty,  a  Convention  shall  be  entered  into 
between  a  Commissioner  or  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  General-in-Chief  of 
the  forces  of  the  United  States,  and  such  as  may  be  appointed  by  the  Mexican 
Government,  to  the  end  that  a  provisional  suspension  of  hostilities  shall  take 
place  ;  and  that  in  the  places  occupied  by  the  said  forces,  constitutional  order  may 
be  re-established,  as  regards  the  political,  administrative  and  judicial  branches,  so 
far  as  this  shall  be  permitted  by  the  circumstances  of  military  occupation. 

ARTICLE   III. 

Immediately  upon  the  ratification  of  the  present  Treaty,  by  the  Government  of 
the  United  States,  orders  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  commanders  of  their  land 
and  naval  forces,  requiring  the  latter  (provided  this  Treaty  shall  then  have  been 
ratified  by  the  Government  of  the  Mexican  Republic)  immediately  to  desist  from 
blockading  the  Mexican  ports  •  and  requiring  the  former  (under  the  same  condi 
tion)  to  commence,  at  the  earliest  moment  practicable,  withdrawing  all  troops  of 
the  United  States  then  in  the  interior  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  to  points  that  shall 
be  selected  by  common  agreement,  at  a  distance  from  the  sea-ports  not  exceeding 
thirty  leagues  ;  and  such  evacuation  of  the  interior  of  the  Republic  shall  be  com 
pleted  with  the  least  possible  delay  ;  the  Mexican  Government  hereby  binding  it 
self  to  afford  every  facility  in  its  power  for  rendering  the  same  convenient  to  the 
troops,  on  their  march,  and  in  their  new  positions,  and  for  promoting  a  good  under 
standing  between  them  and  the  inhabitants.  In  like  manner,  orders  shall  be  dis 
patched  to  the  persons  in  charge  of  the  Custom  Houses  at  all  ports  occupied  by  the 
forces  of  the  United  States,  requiring  them  (under  the  same  condition)  immediately 
to  deliver  possession  of  the  same  to  the  person  authorized  by  the  Mexican  Gov 
ernment  to  receive  it,  together  with  all  bonds  and  evidences  of  debts  for  duties  on 
importations  and  exportations,  not  yet  fallen  due.  Moreover,  a  faithful  and  exact 
account  shall  be  made  out,  showing  the  entire  amount  of  all  duties  on  imports  and 
on  exports,  collected  at  such  Custom  Houses,  or  elsewhere  in  Mexico,  by  authority 
of  the  United  States,  from  and  nfter  the  day  of  the  ratification  of  this  Treaty  by 
the  Government  of  the  Mexican  Republic ;  and  also  an  account  of  the  cost  of  col 
lection  ;  and  such  entire  amount,  deducting  only  the  cost  of  collection,  shall  be  de 
livered  to  the  Mexican  Government,  at  the  City  of  Mexico,  within  three  months 
after  the  exchange  of  ratifications. 

The  evacuation  of  the  Capital  of  the  Mexican  Republic  by  the  troops  of  the 
United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  above  stipulation,  shall  be  completed  in  one  month 
after  the  orders  there  stipulated  for  shall  have  been  received  by  the  Commander 
of  the  said  troops,  or  sooner  if  possible. 

ARTICLE    IV 

Immediately  after  the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  the  present  Treaty,  all  cas 
tles,  forts,  territories,  places  and  possessions,  which  have  been  taken  and  occupied 
by  the  forces  of  the  United  States  during  the  present  war,  within  the  limits  of  the 
Mexican  Republic,  as  about  to  be  established  by  the  following  article,  shall  be  de 
finitely  restored  to  the  said  Republic,  together  with  all  the  artillery,  arms,  appara 
tus  of  war,  munitions  and  other  public  property,  which  were  in  the  said  castles  and 
forts  when  captured,  and  which  shall  remain  there  at  the  time  when  this  Treaty 
shall  be  duly  ratified  by  the  Government  of  the  Mexican  Republic.  To  this  end, 
immediately  upon  the  signature  of  this  Treaty,  onlors  shall  be  dispatched  to  the 
American  officer  commanding  such  castles  and  ports,  securing  against  the  removal 
or  destruction  of  any  such  artillery,  arms,  apparatus  of  war,  munitions,  or  other 
public  property.  The  City  of  Mexico,  within  the  inner  line  of  intrenchments  sur 
rounding  the  said  city,  is  comprehended  in  the  above  stipulations,  as  regards  the 
restoration  of  artillery,  apparatus  of  war,  &c. 

The  final  evacuation  of  the  territory  of  the  Mexican  Republic  by  the  forces  of 
the  United  States  shall  be  completed  within  three  months  from  the  said  exchange 


THE     TRF   iTY.  * 

of  ratifications,  or  sooner  If  possible ;  the  Mexican  Republic  hereby  engages,  as  in 
the  foregoing  Article,  to  use  all  means  in  its  power  for  facilitating  such  evacua 
tion,  and  rendering  it  convenient  to  the  troops,  and  for  promoting  a  good  understand 
ing  between  them  and  the  inhabitants. 

If,  l..)\vever,  the  ratification  of  this  Treaty  by  both  parties  should  not  take  place 
in  time  to  allow  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States  to  be  completed 
before  the  commencement  of  the  sickly  season,  at  the  Mexican  ports  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  in  such  case  a  friendly  arrangement  shall  be  entered  into  between  the  Gen 
eral-in-Chief  of  the  said  troops  and  the  Mexican  Government,  whereby  healthy  and 
otherwise  suitable  places,  at  a  distance  from  the  ports  not  exceeding  thirty  leagues, 
shall  be  designated  for  the  residence  of  such  troops  as  may  not  yet  have  embarked, 
until  the  return  of  the  healthy  season.  And  the  space  of  time  here  referred  to  as 
comprehending  the  sickly  season,  shall  be  understood  to  extend  from  the  first  day 
of  May  to  the  first  day  of  November. 

All  prisoners  of  war  taken  on  either  side,  on  land  or  on  sea,  shall  be  restored  as 
soon  as  practicable  after  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  the  Treaty.  It  is  also 
agreed  that  if  any  Mexicans  should  now  be  held  as  captives  by  any  savage  tribe 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  as  about  to  be  established  by  the  following 
article,  the  Government  of  the  said  United  States  will  exact  the  release  of  such 
captives,  and  cause  them  to  be  restored  to  their  country. 

ARTICLE     V. 

The  boundary  line  between  the  two  Republics  shall  commence  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  three  leagues  from  land,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  otherwise 
called  the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte,  or  opposite  the  mouth  of  its  deepest  branch,  if  it 
should  have  more  than  one  branch  emptying  directly  into  the  sea ;  thence  up  the 
middle  of  that  river,  following  the  deepest  channel,  where  it  has  more  than  one, 
to  the  point  where  it  strikes  the  southern  boundary  of  New  Mexico,  which  runs 
north  of  the  town  called  Paso,  to  its  western  termination  ;  thence  northward  along 
the  western  line  of  New  Mexico,  until  it  intersects  the  first  branch  of  the  River 
Gila  ;  or  if  it  should  not  intersect  any  branch  of  that  river,  then  to  the  point  on 
the  said  line  nearest  to  such  branch,  and  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  same,  thence 
down  the  middle  of  the  said  branch  and  of  the  said  river,  until  it  empties  into  the 
Rio  Colorado ;  thence  across  the  Rio  Colorado,  following  the  division  line  between 
Upper  and  Lower  California,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  southern  and  western  limits  of  New  Mexico,  mentioned  In  this  article,  are 
those  laid  down  in  the  map  entitled  "  Mapof  the  United  Mexican  States,  as  or 
ganized  and  defined  by  various  acts  of  the  Congress  of  said  Republic  and  con 
structed  according  to  the  best  authorities.  Revised  edition.  Published  at  New 
York  in  1847,  by  J.  Disturnell." 

Of  which  map  a  copy  is  added  to  this  treaty,  bearing  the  signatures  and  seals 
of  the  undersigned  Plenipotentaries.  And  in  order  to  preclude  all  difficulty  in  tra 
cing  upon  the  ground  the  limit  separating  Upper  from  Lower  California,  it  is  agreed 
that  the  said  limits  shall  consist  of  a  straight  line,  drawn  from  the  middle  of  the 
Rio  Gila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado,  to  a  point  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean— distant  one  marine  league  due  south  of  the  southernmost  point  of  the  port 
of  San  Diego,  according  to  the  plan  of  said  port,  made  in  the  year  1782,  by  Don 
Juan  Pantojer,  second  sailing  master  of  the  Spanish  fleet,  and  published  at  Ma 
drid  in  the  year  1802,  in  the  Atlas  to  the  voyage  of  the  schooner  Sutil  and  Mexica- 
na,  of  which  plan  a  copy  is  hereunto  added,  signed  and  sealed  by  the  respective 
Plenipotentiaries. 

In  order  to  designate  the  boundary  line  with  due  precision,  upon  authoritative 
maps,  and  to  establish  on  the  ground  landmarks  which  shall  show  the  limits  of 
both  Republics,  as  described  in  the  present  article,  the  Governments  shall  each 
appoint  a  Commissioner  and  Surveyor,  who,  before  the  expiration  of  one  year 
from  the  date  of  the  exchange  of  ratification  of  this  Treaty,  shall  meet  at  the  port  of 
Sun  Diego,  and  proceed  to  run  and  mark  the  said  boundary  in  its  whole  course  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte.  They  shall  keep  journals  and  make  out  plans 
of  their  operations ;  and  the  result  agreed  upon  by  them  shall  be  deemed  a  part 
of  this  Treaty,  and  shall  have  the  same  force  as  if  it  were  inserted  therein.  The 
two  Governments  will  amicably  agree  regarding  what  maybe  necessary  to  these 
persons,  also  as  to  their  respective  escorts,  should  such  be  necessary. 


4  THE     TREATY. 

The  boundary  line  established  by  this  article  shall  be  religiously  respected  by 
each  of  the  two  Republics,  and  no  change  shall  be  made  therein,  except  by  the 
express  and  free  consent  of  both  Nations,  lawfully  given  by  the  General  Govern 
ment  of  each,  in  conformity  with  its  own  Constitution. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

The  vessels  and  citizens  of  the  United  States  shall,  in  all  time,  have  a  free  and 
uninterrupted  passage  by  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  by  the  river  Colorado ;  and 
not  by  land,  without  the  express  consent  of  the  Mexican  Government. 

If,  by  the  examinations  that  may  be  made,  it  should  be  ascertained  to  be  prac 
ticable  and  advantageous  to  construct  a  Road,  Canal,  or  Railway,  which  should,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  run  upon  the  river  Gila,  or  upon  its  right  or  its  left  bank,  within 
the  space  of  one  marine  league  from  either  margin  of  the  river,  the  Governments 
of  both  Republics  will  form  an  agreement  regarding  its  construction,  in  order  that 
it  may  serve  equally  for  the  use  and  advantage  of  both  countries. 

ARTICLE    VII. 

The  river  Gila,  and  the  part  of  the  Rio  del  Norte  lying  below  the  southern  boun 
dary  of  New  Mexico,  being  agreeably  to  the  Fifth  Article,  divided  in  the  middle  be 
tween  the  two  Republics,  the  navigation  of  the  Gila  and  the  Bravo,  below  said 
boundary  shall  be  free  and  common  to  the  vessels  and  citizens  of  both  countries ; 
and  neither  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other  construct  any  work  that  may 
impede  or  interrupt  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  exercise  of  this  right — not  even  for 
the  purpose  of  favoring  new  methods  of  navigation.  Nor  shall  any  tax  or  contri 
bution,  under  any  denomination  or  title  be  levied  upon  vessels  or  persons  naviga 
ting  the  same,  or  upon  merchandize,  or  effects  transported  thereon,  except  in  the 
case  of  landing  upon  one  of  their  shores.  If,  for  the  purpose  of  making  said  rivers 
navigable,  or  for  maintaining  them  in  such  a  state,  it  should  be  necessary  or  ad 
vantageous  to  establish  any  tax  or  contribution,  this  shall  not  be  done  without  the 
consent  of  both  Governments. 

The  stipulations  contained  in  the  present  article  shall  not  impair  the  territorial 
rights  of  either  Republic,  within  its  established  limits. 

ARTICLE    VIII. 

Mexicans  now  established  in  territories  previously  belonging  to  Mexico,  and 
which  remain  for  the  future,  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  as  defined  by 
the  present  Treaty,  shall  be  free  to  continue  where  they  now  reside,  or  to  remove, 
at  any  time,  to  the  Mexican  Republic,  retaining  the  property  which  they  possess 
in  the  said  territories,  or  disposing  thereof,  and  removing  the  proceeds  wherever 
they  please,  without  their  being  subjected  on  this  account,  to  any  contribution,  or 
tax  whatever. 

Those  who  shall  prefer  to  remain  in  said  territories,  may  either  retain  the  title 
and  rights  of  Mexican  citizens,  or  acquire  those  of  citizens  of  the  United  States.  But 
they  shall  be  under  the  obligation  to  make  their  selection  within  one  year  from  the 
date  of  the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  this  Treaty ;  and  those  who  shall  remain  in 
the  said  territories,  after  the  expiration  of  that  year,  without  having  declared  their 
intention  to  retain  the  character  of  Mexicans  shall  be  considered  to  have  elected 
to  become  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  said  territories,  property  of  any  kind,  now  belonging  to  Mexicans  not  estab 
lished  there  shall  be  inviolably  respected.  The  present  owners,  the  heirs  of  these, 
and  all  Mexicans  who  may  hereafter  acquire  said  property  by  contract,  shall  enjoy, 
with  respect  to  it,  guaranties  equally  ample  as  if  the  same  belonged  to  citizens  of 
the  United  States. 

[In  place  of  the  following  Article,  the  Senate  has  inserted  the  third  Article  of  the 
Treaty  between  France  and  the  United  States,  for  the  cession  of  Louisiana,  which 
provides  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territory  shall  be  admitted  to  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  citizenship,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
as  soon  as  Congress  shall  determine ;  and  that  in  the  meantime,  they  shall  be  pro 
tected  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  their  liberty,  property  and  religious  belief.] 


THE      TREATY 


ARTICLE    IX. 

The  Mexicans  who  in  the  territories  aforesaid,  shall  not  preserve  the  character 
of  citizens  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  conformably  with  what  is  stipulated  inj  the  pre 
ceding  article,  shall  be  incorporated  into  the  Union  of  the  United  States,  and  ad 
mitted  as  soon  as  possible,  according  to  the  principles  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights  of  citizens  of  the  United  States.  In  the  meantime 
they  shall  be  maintained  and  protected  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  their  pro 
perty,  and  the  civil  rights  now  vested  in  them,  according  to  the  Mexican  laws. 
With  respect  to  political  rights,  their  condition  shall  be  on  an  equality  with  that  of 
the  inhabitants  of  other  territories  of  the  United  States,  and  at  least  equally  good 
as  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  and  the  Floridas,  when  these  provinces,  by 
transfer  from  the  French  Republic,  and  the  Crown  of  Spain,  became  territories 
of  the  United  States. 

The  most  ample  guaranty  shall  be  enjoyed  by  all  ecclesiastics  and  religious  cor 
porations,  or  communities,  as  well  in  the  discharge  of  the  offices  of  their  ministry, 
as  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  property  of  every  kind  whether  individual  or  corpo 
rate.  This  guaranty  shall  embrace  all  temples,  houses  and  edifices  dedicated  to 
the  Roman  Catholic  worship ;  as  well  as  all  property  destined  to  its  support,  or  to 
that  of  schools,  hospitals  or  other  foundations  for  charitable  or  beneficent  purposes. 
No  property  of  this  nature  shall  be  considered  as  having  become  the  property  of 
the  American  Government,  or  as  subject  to  be  by  it  disposed  of,  or  diverted  to 
other  causes. 

Finally,  the  relations  and  communications  between  Catholics  living  in  the  terri- 
ries  aforesaid,  and  their  respective  ecclesiastic  authorities,  shall  be  open,  free  and 
exempt  from  all  hindrance  whatever,  even  although  such  authorities  should  reside 
within  the  limits  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  as  denned  by  this  Treaty ;  and  this  free 
dom  shall  continue  so  long  as  a  new  debarcation  of  ecclesiastical  districts  shall  not 
have  been  made,  conformably  with  the  laws  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

ARTICLE    X. 

[EXPUNGED.] 

All  grants  of  land  made  by  the  Mexican  Government,  or  by  the  coaapetent  au 
thorities,  in  territories  previously  appertaining  to  Mexico,  and  remaining  for  the 
»ature  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  respected  as  valid,  to  the  same 
extent  that  the  same  grants  would  be  valid  if  the  territories  had  remained  within 
the  limits  of  Mexico.  But  the  grantees  of  land  in  Texas  put  in  possession  thereof, 
who  by  reason  of  the  circumstances  of  the  country,  since  the  beginning  of  the 
troubles  between  Texas  and  the  Mexican  Government,  may  have  been  prevented 
from  fulfilling  all  the  conditions  of  their  grants,  shall  be  under  the  obligation  to  fulfill 
the  said  conditions  within  the  periods  limited  in  the  same  respectively,  such  peri 
ods  to  be  now  counted  from  the  date  of  the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  this  Treaty ; 
in  default  of  which,  said  grants  shall  not  be  obligatory  on  the  State  of  Texas,  in 
virtue  of  the  stipulations  contained  in  this  Article. 

The  foregoing  stipulation  in  regard  to  grantees  of  land  in  Texas,  is  extended  to 
all  grantees  of  land  in  the  territories  aforesaid,  elsewhere  than  in  Texas,  put  in 
possession  under  such  grants ;  and  in  default  of  the  fulfillment  of  the  conditions  of 
any  such  grants,  within  the  new  period  which,  as  is  above  stipulated,  begins  with 
the  day  of  the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  the  same  shall  be  null  and  void. 

The  Mexican  Government  declares  that  no  grant  whatever  of  lands  in  Texas  nas 
been  made  since  the  second  day  of  March,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  ;  and  that  no  grant  whatever  of  lands  in  any  of  the  territories  aforesaid,  has  been 
made  since  the  thirteenth  day  of  May,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-six. 

ARTICLE    XI. 

Considering  that  a  great  part  of  the  territories  which,  by  the  present  Treaty,  are 
to  be  comprehended  for  the  future  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  is  now 
occupied  by  savage  tribes,  who  will  hereafter  be  under  the  control  of  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  and  whose  incursions  within  the  territory  of  Mexico 
would  be  prejudicial  in  the  extreme,  it  is  solemnly  agreed  that  all  such  incursions 

1* 


6  THE      TREATY. 

shall  be  forcibly  restrained  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  whensoever 
this  may  be  necessary ;  and  that  when  they  cannot  be  prevented,  they  shall  be 
punished  by  the  said  Government,  and  satisfaction  for  the  same  shall  be  exacted— 
all  in  the  same  way,  and  with  equal  diligence  and  energy  as  if  the  same  incursions 
were  committed  in  its  own  territory,  against  its  own  citizens. 

It  shall  not  be  lawful,  under  any  pretext  whatever,  for  any  inhabitant  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  to  purchase  or  acquire  any  Mexican,  or  any  foreigner  residing  in  Mexico, 
who  may  have  been  captured  by  Indians  inhabiting  the  territory  of  either  of  the 
Republics,  not  to  purchase  or  acquire  horses,  mules,  cattle  or  property  of  any  kind, 
stolen  within  the  Mexican  territory,  by  such  Indians  ;  nor  to  provide  such  Indians 
with  fire-arms  or  ammunition  by  sale  or  otherwise. 

And  in  the  event  of  any  person  or  persons  captured  within  Mexican  territory  by 
Indians,  being  carried  into  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  the  Government  of 
the  latter  engages  and  binds  itself  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  so  soon  as  it  shall 
know  of  such  captives  being  within  its  territory,  and  shall  be  able  BO  to  do,  through 
the  faithful  exercise  of  its  influence  and  power  to  rescue  them  and  return  them  to 
their  country,  or  deliver  them  to  the  agent  or  representative  of  the  Mexican  Gov 
ernment.  The  Mexican  authorities  will,  as  far  as  practicable,  give  to  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  notice  of  such  captures ;  and  its  expenses  incurred  in 
the  maintenance  and  transmission  of  the  rescued  captives ;  who,  in  the  mean  time, 
shall  be  treated  with  the  utmost  hospitality  by  the  American  authorities  at  the 
place  where  they  may  be.  But  if  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  before  re 
ceiving  such  notice  from  Mexico,  should  obtain  intelligence,  through  any  other 
channel,  of  the  existence  of  Mexican  captives  within  its  territory,  it  will  proceed 
forthwith  to  effect  their  release  and  delivery  to  the  Mexican  agent,  as  above 
stipulated. 

For  the  purpose  of  giving  to  these  stipulations  the  fullest  possible  efficacy,  there 
by  affording  the  security  and  redress  demanded  by  their  true  spirit  and  intent,  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  will  now  and  hereafter  pass,  without  unnecessary 
delay,  and  always  vigilantly  enforce,  such  laws  as  the  nature  of  the  subject  may 
require.  And  finally,  the  sacredness  of  this  obligation  shall  never  be  lost  sight  of 
by  the  said  Government,  when  providing  for  the  removal  of  Indians  from  any  por 
tion  of  said  territories,  or  for  its  being  settled  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  special  care  then  shall  be  taken  not  to  place  its  Indian  occu 
pants  under  the  necessity  of  seeking  new  homes,  by  committing  those  invasions 
which  the  United  States  have  solemnly  obliged  themselves  to  restrain. 

ARTICLE    XII. 

In  consideration  of  the  extension  acquired  by  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States, 
as  defined  in  the  fifth  article  of  the  present  Treaty,  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  engages  to  pay  to  that  of  the  Mexican  Republic  the  sum  of  fifteen  millions 
of  dollars  in  the  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  modes  below  specified. 

The  Mexican  Government  shall  at  the  time  of  ratifying  this  Treaty,  declare 
which  of  these  two  modes  of  payment  it  prefers  ;  and  the  mode  so  selected  by  it 
shall  be  conformed  to  by  that  of  the  United  States. 

First  mode  of  payment — Immediately  nftefr  this  Treaty  shall  have  been  duly  rat 
ified  by  the  Government  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  the  sum  of  three  millions  of 
dollars  shall  be  paid  to  the  said  Government  by  that  of  the  United  States,  at  the 
City  of  Mexico,  in  the  gold  or  silver  coin  of  Mexico.  For  the  remaining  twelve 
millions  of  dollars  the  United  States  shall  create  a  stock,  bearing  an  interest  of  six 


reaeem  me  same  oeing  previously  given,  uernncaies  01  sucn  SIOCK,  in  proper 
form,  for  such  sums  as  shall  be  specified  by  the  Mexican  Government,  shall  be  de 
livered,  and  transferable  by  the  said  Government  to  the  same  by  that  of  the  United 
States. 

Second  mode  of  payment — Immediately  after  this  Treaty  shall  have  been  duly 
ratified  by  the  Government  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  the  sum  of  thrpe  millions  ol 
dollars  shall  be  paid  to  the  said  Government  by  that  of  the  United  Stntc?.  Ht  the  City 
of  Mexico,  in  the  go  d  cr  silver  coin  of  Mexico.  The  remaining  twelve  millions  of 


THE      TR  J.  AT  Y  .  • 

4ollars  shall  be  paid  at  the  same  place,  and  in  the  same  coin,  in  annual  instalments 
of  throe  millions  of  dollars  each,  together  with  interest  on  the  same,  at  the  rate  of 
s  x  per  centum  per  annum.  This  interest  shall  begin  to  run  upon  the  whole  sum 
of  twelve  million:!  from  the  day  of  the  ratification  of  the  present  Treaty  by  the 
Mexican  Government,  and  the  first  of  the  instalments  shall  be  paid  at  the  expiration 
of  one  year  from  the  same  day.  Together  with  each  annual  instalment,  as  it  falls 
du;-,  the  whole  interest  accruing  on  each  instalment  from  the  beginning  shall  also 
be  p;:ici. 

[Certificates  in  the  proper  form  for  the  said  instalments,  respectively,  in  sums  as 
shall  be  desired  by  the  Mexican  Government,  and  transferable  by  it,  shall  be  de 
livered  to  the  said  Government  by  that  of  the  United  States.] 

[N.  B.  The  first  of  these  modes  is  rejected.  The  latter  is  adopted,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  last  paragraph,  in  brackets.] 

ARTICLE    XIII. 

The  United  States  engage,  moreover,  to  assume  and  pay  to  the  claimants  all  the 
amounts  now  due  them,  and  these  hereafter  to  become  due,  by  reason  of  the  claims 
already  liquidated  and  decided  against  the  Mexican  Republic,  under  the  Conven 
tions  between  the  two  republics  severally  concluded  on  the  eleventh  day  of  April, 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirty -nine,  and  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  January,  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty-three ;  so  that  the  Mexican  Republic  shall  be  absolutely  exempt, 
for  the  future,  from  all  expense  whatever  on  account  of  the  said  claims. 

ARTICLE    XIV. 

The  United  States  do  furthermore  discharge  the  Mexican  Republic  from  all  claims 
of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  not  heretofore  decided  against  the  Mexican  Gov 
ernment,  which  may  have  arisen  previously  to  the  date  of  the  signature  of  this 
Treaty  :  which  discharge  shall  be  final  and  perpetual,  whether  the  said  claims  be 
rejected  or  be  allowed  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  provided  for  in  the  follow 
ing  article,  and  whatever  shall  be  the  total  amount  of  those  allowed. 

ARTICLE    XV. 


The  United  States,  exonerating  Mexico  from  all  demands  on  account  of  the  claims 
'  their  citizens  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article,  and  considering  them  entirely 


boot 

Mexican  ivepunuc,  snail  oe  aeemea  necessary  10  me  jusi  decision  01  any  cmini,  uie 
Commissioners,  or  the  claimants  through  them,  shall,  within  such  period  as  Con- 
"-i»s  may  designate,  make  an  applicjitfon  in  writing  for  the  same,  be  assessed  to 
Mexican  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs,  to  be  transmitted  by  the  Secretary  of 


u>  asjpncrs  ;  provided,  that  no  such  application  shall  be  made  by  or  at  the  instance 
ot  -y  claimant,  until  the  facts  which  it  is  expected  to  prove  by  such  books,  re 
cords,  or  documents,  shall  have  been  stated  under  oath  or  affirmation. 


8  'THE      TREATY. 

ARTICLE    XVI 

Each  of  the  contracting  parties  reserves  to  itself  the  entire  right  to  fortify  what 
ever  point  within  its  territory  it  may  judge  proper  so  to  fortify  for  its  security. 

ARTICLE    XVII. 

The  Treaty  of  amity,  commerce,  and  navigation,  concluded  at  the  City  of  Mexi 
co  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1831,  between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
the  United  Mexican  States,  except  the  additional  article,  and  except  so  far  as  the 
stipulations  of  the  said  Treaty  may  not  be  incompatible  with  any  stipulation  con 
tained  in  the  present  Treaty,  is  hereby  revived  for  the  period  ol  eight  years  from 


the  day  of  the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  this  Treaty,  with  the  same  force  an 
virtue  as  if  incorporated  therein  ;  it  being  understood  that  each  of  the  contractins 
parties  reserves  to  itself  the  right,  at  any  time  after  the  said  period  of  eight  years 
shall  have  expired,  to  terminate  the  same  by  giving  one  year's  notice  of  such  in 
tention  to  the  other  party. 

ARTICLE    XVIII. 

All  supplies  whatever  of  troops  of  the  United  States  in  Mexico,  arriving  at  ports 
in  the  occupation  of  such  troops  previous  to  the  final  evacuation  thereof,  although 
subsequently  to  the  restoration  of  the  Custom-Houses  at  such  ports,  shall  be  entire 
ly  exempt  from  duties  and  charges  of  any  kind ;  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  hereby  engaging  and  pledging  its  faith  to  establish,  and  vigilantly  to  enforce 
all  possible  guards  for  securing  the  revenue  of  Mexico,  by  preventing  the  impor 
tation,  under  cover  of  this  stipulation,  of  any  articles  other  than  such,  both  in  kind 
and  in  quality,  as  shall  really  be  wanted  for  the  use  and  consumption  of  the  forces 
of  the  United  States  during  the  time  they  may  remain  in  Mexico.  To  this  end  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  all  officers  and  agents  of  the  United  States  to  announce  to  the 
Mexican  authorities,  at  the  respective  ports,  any  attempts  at  a  fraudulent  abuse  of 
this  stipulation  which  they  may  know  of  or  may  have  reason  to  suspect,  and  to 
give  to  such  authorities  all  the  aid  in  their  power  with  regard  thereto  ;  and  every 
such  attempt,  when  duly  proved  and  established  by  sentence  of  a  competent  tribu 
nal,  shall  be  punished  by  the  confiscation  of  the  property  so  attempted  to  be  fraud 
ulently  introduced. 

ARTICLE   XIX. 

With  respect  to  all  merchandise,  effects,  and  property  whatsoever,  imported  into 
ports  of  Mexico  while  in  the  occupation  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  wheth 
er  by  citizens  of  either  republic,  or  by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any  neutral  nation, 
tbe  following  rules  shall  be  observed : 

1.  All  such  merchandise,  effects,  and  property,  if  imported  previously  to  the  res 
toration  of  the  Custom-Houses  to  the  Mexican  authorities,  as  stipulated  for  in  the 
third  article  of  this  Treaty,  shall  be  exempt  from  confiscation,  although  the  impor 
tation  of  the  same  be  prohibited  by  the  Mexican  Tariff. 

2.  The  same  perfect  exemption  shall  be  enjoyed  by  all  such  merchandise,  effects, 
and  property,  imported  subsequently  to  the  restoration  of  the  Custom-Houses,  and 
previously  to  the  sixty  days  fixed  in  the  following  article  for  the  coming  into  force 
of  the  Mexican  Tariff',  at  such  ports  respectively ;  the  said  merchandise,  effects,  and 
property  being,  however,  at  the  time  of  their  importation,  subject  to  the  payment 
of  duties,  as  provided  for  in  the  said  following  article. 

3.  All  merchandise,  effects,  and  property  described  in  the  two  rules  foregoing, 
shall,  during  their  continuance  at  the  place  of  importation,  or  upon  their  leaving 
euch  place  for  the  interior,  be  exempt  from  all  duty,  tax  or  impost  of  every  kind, 
under  whatsoever  title  or  denomination.    Nor  shall  they  be  there  subject  to  any 
charge  whatsoever  upon  the  sale  thereof. 

4.  All  merchandise,  effects,  and  property,  described  in  the  first  and  second  rules, 
which  shall  have  been  removed  to  any  place  in  the  interior  while  such  place  was 
in  the  occupation  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  shall,  during  their  continuance 
tHirein,  be  exempt  from  all  tax  upon  the  sale  of  consumption  thereof,  and  from  ev 
ery  kind  of  impost  or  contribution,  under  whatsoever  title  or  denomination. 

5.  But  if  any  merchandise,  effects,  or  property,  described  in  the  first  and  second 
rules  shall  be  removed  to  any  place  not  occupied  at  the  time  by  the  forces  of  the 


THE      TREATY.  9 

United  Statee,  they  shall,  upon  their  introduction  into  such  place,  or  upon  their  sale 
or  consumption  there,  be  subject  to  the  same  duties  which,  under  the  Mexican 
laws,  they  would  be  required  to  pay  in  such  cases  if  they  had  been  imported  in 
time  of  peace,  through  the  maritime  Custom-Houses,  and  had  there  paid  the  duties 
conformably  with  the  Mexican  Tariff. 

6.  The  owners  of  all  merchandise,  effects,  or  property  described  in  the  first  and 
second  rules  and  existing  in  any  port  of  Mexico,  shall  have  the  right  to  re-ship  the 
same,  exempt  from  all  tax,  impost,  or  contribution  whatever. 

With  respect  to  the  metals,  or  other  property,  exported  from  any  Mexican  port 
while  in  the  occupation  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  and  previously  to  the 
restoration  of  the  Custom-Houso  at  such  port,  no  person  shall  be  required  by  the 
Mexican  authorities,  whether  general  or  State,  to  pay  any  tax,  duty,  or  contribu 
tion  upon  any  such  exportation,  or  in  any  manner  to  account  for  the  same  to  tha 
said  authorities. 

ARTICLE    XX. 

Through  consideration  for  the  interests  of  commerce  generally,  it  is  agreed  thnt 
if  less  than  sixty  days  should  elapse  between  the  date  of  the  signature  of  this  Treaty 
and  the  restoration  of  the  custom-houses,  conformably  with  a  stipulation  in  the 
third  Article,  in  such  case,  all  merchandise,  effects,  and  property  whatsoever,  ar 
riving  at  the  Mexican  ports  after  the  restoration  of  the  said  custom-houses,  and  pre 
viously  to  the  expiration  of  sixty  days  after  the  signature  of  this  Treaty,  shall  be 
admitted  to  entry ;  and  no  other  duties  shall  be  levied  thereon  than  the  duties  es 
tablished  by  the  Tariff  found  in  force  at  such  custom-houses  at  the  time  of  the  re 
storation  of  the  same.  And  to  all  such  merchandise,  effects  and  property,  the  rules 
established  in  the  preceding  Article  shall  apply. 

ARTICLE    XXI. 

If,  unhappily,  any  disagreement  should  hereafter  arise  between  the  Governments 
of  the  two  Republics,  whether  with  respect  to  the  interpretation  of  any  stipulation 
in  this  Treaty  or  with  respect  to  any  other  particular  concerning  the  political  or 
commercial  relations  of  the  two  nations,  the  said  Governments,  in  the  name  of 
those  nations,  do  promise  to  each  other  that  they  will  endeavor,  in  the  most  sincere 
and  earnest  manner,  to  settle  the  difference  so  arising,  and  to  preserve  the  state  of 
peace  and  friendship  in  which  the  two  countries  are  now  placing  themselves ; 
using,  for  this  end,  mutual  representations  and  pacific  negotiations.  And  if,  by 
these  means,  they  should  not  be  enabled  to  come  to  an  agreement,  a  resort  shall 
not,  on  this  account,  be  had  in  reprisals,  aggressions,  or  hostility  of  any  kind  by  the 
one  Republic  against  the  other,  until  the  Government  of  that  which  deems  itself 
aggrieved  shall  have  maturely  considered,  in  the  spirit  of  peace  and  good  neigh 
borship,  whether  it  would  not  be  better  that  such  difference  should  be  settled  by 
the  arbitration  of  Commissioners  appointed  on  each  side,  or  by  that  of  a  friendly 
nation.  And  should  such  course  be  proposed  by  either  party,  it  shall  be  acceded 
to  by  the  other,  unless  deemed  by  it  altogether  incompatible  with  the  nature  of  the 
difference,  or  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

ARTICLE    XXII. 

If,  (which  is  not  to  be  expected,  and  which  God  forbid !)  war  shall  unhappily 
break  out  between  the  two  Republics,  they  do  now,  with  a  view  to  such  calamity, 
pledge  themselves  to  each  other  and  to  the  world,  to  obserre  the  following  rules, 
absolutely,  where  the  nature  of  the  subject  permits,  and  as  closely  as  possible  in 
all  cases  where  such  absolute  observance  shall  be  impossible. 

1.  The  merchants  of  either  Republic  then  residing  in  the  other  shall  be  allowed 
to  remain  twelve  months,  (for  those  dwelling  in  the  interior,)  and  six  months,  (for 
those  dwelling  at  the  seaports,)  to  collect  their  debts  and  settle  their  affairs ;  during 
which  periods,  they  shall  enjoy  the  same  protection,  and  be  on  the  same  footing,  in 
all  respects,  as  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  the  most  friendly  nations  ;  and,  at  the  ex 
piration  thereof,  or  at  any  time  before,  they  shall  have  full  liberty  to  depart,  car 
rying  off  all  their  effects  without  molestation  or  hinderance ;  conforming  therein  to 
the  same  laws  which  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  the  most  friendly  nations  are  re 
quired  to  conform  to.  Upon  the  entrance  of  the  armies  of  either  nation  into  the 


10  THE       TREATY 

territories  of  the  other,  women  and  children,  ecclesiastics,  scholars  of  every  fac 
ulty,  cultivators  of  the  earth,  merchants,  artisans,  manufacturers,  and  fishermen, 
unarmed,  tod  inhabiting  unfortified  towns,  villages  or  places,  nnd  in  general  all 
persons  whose  occupations  are  for  the  common  subsistence  and  benefit  of  man 
kind,  shall  be  allowed  to  continue  their  respective  employments  unmolested  in 
their  persons.  Nor  shall  their  houses  or  goods  be  burnt  or  otherwise  destroyed, 
nor  their  cattle  taken,  nor  their  fields  wasted,  by  the  armed  force  into  whose  power, 
by  the  events  of  war,  they  may  happen  to  fall ;  but  if  the  necessity  arise  to  take 
any  thing  from  them  for  the  use  of  such  armed  force,  the  same  shall  be  paid  for  at 
an  equitable  price.  All  churches,  hospitals,  schools,  colleges,  libraries,  and  other 
establishments,  for  charitable  and  beneficent  purposes,  shall  be  respected,  and  all 
persons  connected  with  the  same  protected  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  and 
the  pursuits  of  their  vocations. 

2.  In  order  that  the  fate  of  prisoners  of  war  may  be  alleviated,  all  such  practices 
as  those  of  sending  them  into  distant,  inclement,  or  unwholesome  districts,  or 
crowding  them  into  close  and  noxious  places,  shall  be  studiously  avoided.  They 
shall  not  be  confined  in  dungeons,  prison-ships  or  prisons ;  nor  be  put  in  irons,  or 
bound,  or  otherwise  restrained  in  the  use  of  their  limbs.  The  officers  shall  enjoy 
liberty  on  their  paroles,  within  convenient  districts,  and  have  comfortable  quar 
ters  ;  and  the  common  soldiers  shall  be  disposed  in  cantonments,  open  and  exten 
sive  enough  for  air  and  exercise,  and  lodged  in  barracks  as  roomy  and  good  as  are 
provided  by  the  party  in  whose  power  they  are  for  its  own  troops.  But  if  any 
officer  shall  break  his  parole  by  leaving  the  district  so  assigned  him,  or  any  other 
prisoner  shall  escape  from  the  limits  of  his  cantonment,  after  they  shall  have  been 
designated  to  him,  such  individual,  oflicer,  01  other  prisoner  shall  forfeit  so  much 
of  the  benefit  of  this  Article  as  provides  for  his  liberty  on  parole  or  in  cantonment. 
And  if  an  officer  so  breaking  his  parole,  or  any  common  soldier  so  escaping  from 
the  limits  assigned  him,  shall  afterward  be  found  in  arms,  previously  to  his  being 
regularly  exchanged,  the  person  so  offending  shall  be  dealt  with  according  to  the 
established  laws  of  war.  The  officers  shall  be  daily  furnished  by  the  party  in 
whose  power  they  are,  with  as  many  rations,  and  of  the  same  articles,  as  are  al 
lowed,  either  in  kind  or  by  computation,  to  officers  of  equal  rank  in  its  own  army ; 
and  all  others  shall  be  daily  furnished  with  such  ration  as  is  allowed  to  a  common 
soldier  in  its  own  service  ;  the  value  of  all  which  supplies  shall,  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  or  at  periods  to  be  agreed  upon  between  the  respective  commanders,  be  paid 
by  the  other  p~5rty,  on  a  mutual  adjustment  of  accounts  for  the  subsistence  of  pris 
oners  ;  and  such  accounts  shall  not  be  mingled  with  or  set  off  against  any  others, 
nor  the  balance  due  on  them  withheld,  as  a  compensation  or  reprisal  for  any  canse 
whatever,  real  or  pretended.  Each  party  shall  be  allowed  to  keep  a  commissary 
of  prisoners,  appointed  by  itself,  with  every  cantonment  of  prisoners,  in  possession 
of  the  other ;  which  commissary  shall  see  the  prisoners  as  often  as  he  pleases ; 
shall  be  allowed  to  receive,  exempt  from  all  duties  or  taxes,  and  to  distribute, 
whatever  comforts  may  be  sent  to  them  by  their  friends ;  and  shall  be  free  to 
transmit  his  reports  in  open  letters  to  the  party  by  whom  he  is  employed.  And  it 
is  declared  that  neither  the  pretense  that  war  dissolves  all  Treaties,  nor  any  other 
whatever,  shall  be  considered  as  annuling  or  suspending  the  solemn  covena-nt  con 
tained  in  this  article.  On  the  contrary,  the  state  of  war  is  precisely  that  for  which 
it  is  provided  ;  and  during  which,  its  stipulations  are  to  be  as  sacredly  observed  aa 
the  most  acknowledged  obligations  under  the  law  of  nature  or  nations. 

ARTICLE    XXIII. 

This  Treaty  shall  be  ratified  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  by 
nnd  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof;  nnd  by  the  President  of  the 
Mexican  Republic  with  the  previous  approbation  of  its  General  Congress ;  and  the 
ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  in  the  city  of  Washington,  in  four  months  from  the 
date  of  the  signature  hereof,  or  sooner,  if  practicable. 

In  faith  whereof,  we,  the  respective  Plenipotentiaries,  have  signed  this  Treaty  of 
Peace,  Friendship,  Limits,  and  Settlement ;  and  have  hereunto  affixed  our  seals  re 
spectively.  Done  in  Quintuplicate,  at  the  city  of  Gaudalupe  Hidalgo,  on  the  sec 
ond  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty-eight  N.  P.  TRIST, 


LUIS  G.  CUEVAS, 
BERNARDO  CONTO, 
MIG.  ATRISTAIN, 


L.  S. 

L.  S. 

L.  S. 

L.  9. 


T  II  E      T  R  E  A  T  Y  .  11 

ADDITIONAL  AND  SECBET  ARTICLE  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  Friendship,  Limits,  and 
Settlement  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Mexican  Republic,  signed 
this  day  by  their  respective  Plenipotentiaries.  (Expunged.) 

In  view  of  the  possibility  that  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  this  Treaty  may, 
by  the  circumstances  in  which  the  Mexican  Republic  is  placed,  be  delayed  lonscr 
than  the  term  of  four  months  fixed  by  its  twenty -third  article  for  the  exchange  of 
ratifications  of  the  same,  it  is  hereby  agreed  that  such  delay  shall  not,  in  any  man 
ner,  affect  the  force  and  validity  of,;this  Treaty,  unless  it  should  exceed  the  term 
of  eight  months,  counted  from  the  date  of  the  signature  thereof. 

This  article  is  to  have  the  samo  force  and  virture  as  if  inserted  in  the  treaty  to 
which  this  is  an  addition. 

In  faith  ^whereof,  we,  the  respective  Plenipotentiaries,  have  signed  this  additional 
and  secret  article,  and  have  hereunto  affixed  our  seals,  respectively.  Done  in 
(iuintuplicate  at  the  city  of  Gaudalupe  Hidalgo,  on  the  second  day  of  February,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty -eight. 

N.  P.  THIST,  [L.  s. 

LUIS  G.  CUEVA8,  [L.  s. 
BERNARDO  CONTO,  [L.  s. 
MIG.  ATRISTAIN.  [L.  s. 

And  whereas,  the  said  Treaty,  as  amended,  has  been  duly  rati 
fied  on  both  parts,  and  the  respective  ratifications  of  the  same  were 
exchanged  at  Queretaro,  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  May  last,  by  Am 
brose  H.  Sevier  and  Nathan  Clifford,  commissioners  on  the  part  of 
the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  by  Senor  Don  Luis  de  la 
Rosa,  Minister  of  Relations  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  on  the  part 
of  that  Government : 

Now,  therefore,  be  it  known,  that  I,  James  K.  Polk,  President 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  have  caused  the  said  Treaty  to 
be  made  public,  to  the  end  that  the  same,  and  every  clause  and  ar 
ticle  thereof,  may  be  observed  and  fulfilled  with  good  faith  by  the 
United  States  and  the  citizens  thereof. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the 
Beal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  on  this  fourth  day  of  July,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-eight,  and  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  the  seventy-third. 

By  the  President, 

JUS.]  JAMES  K.   POLK. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN,  Secretary  of  State. 


24  Longitude  22 ^  West     from    ""  20    Washington^ 


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